If you work in the maritime industry in western Kentucky, you may have seen or dealt with accidents firsthand.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the fatality rate for workers involved with water transportation is 4.7 times higher than the overall average for workers in the U.S.
Dangerous work
Longshore workers can experience many of the risks inherent in maritime work, in addition to the dangers of moving heavy cargo.
Operating cranes, trucks, and other heavy equipment is intrinsically dangerous, as are unloading and moving huge containers. Workers may need to climb scaffolds and traverse catwalks. The margin for error can be small and the consequences large.
Maritime workers often perform in hazardous conditions, and their job duties are often dangerous. The psychological stress of knowing there may be no room for error can take its toll, especially if you’ve seen other workers seriously hurt. It can also be stressful knowing that sometimes there is nothing you can do to avoid an accident or other danger.
Accidents on the Ohio River can occur in an instant and bring devastating results.
Legal protections
Maritime-related events are often covered by different laws than land-based events. Maritime and longshore workers injured on the job are usually protected by federal law. Whether you become injured working in a riverboat trade with a commercial vessel, or as a longshoreman, The Jones Act and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act may help. These programs are similar to workers’ compensation insurance.
Workers who do dangerous work need the safety net of knowing medical and living costs can be met if something goes wrong.
