5 common injuries seafarers face on the job

On Behalf of | Mar 22, 2018 | Blog

Working at sea is an enjoyable job, but it can be hard work. Add to that the risk of injuries, and you can see why it’s important for seafarers to know their rights when it comes to being compensated for injuries.

Five of the most common injuries deck hands and seafarers face include eye injuries, hand injuries, head injuries, injuries from falls and injuries from cargo handling.

Eye injuries

Eye injuries occur when working on ships fairly often. They can occur due to welding accidents, working with hazardous materials or because of other situations. Always wear the appropriate personal protective gear to protect your eyes while you’re on the job.

Hand injuries

Another common kind of injury seafarers run into is a hand injury. Working on a ship does require the handling of many kinds of objects. Some are heavy, while others are sharp or slick. The wrong combination without gloves or protective equipment could lead to injuries like lacerations or crushing injuries.

Head injuries

Many times, the head injuries seen on ships are a result of a failure to duck. For instance, the small door frame on some parts of a ship could require you to duck or bend down significantly. Not doing so could lead to a serious head injury or concussion. For this reason, everyone on a ship should wear head protection while in confined spaces as well as when falls are a possibility.

Falls

Falls are a major risk on ships for several reasons. First, the deck may get wet, making it slick. Second, there are often openings in the floor and rails around high areas that can be tripped over. On ships, the motion associated with being on water could cause someone to fall over or be thrown off balance suddenly, leading to a fall and injury.

Cargo-related injuries

Finally, there is a risk of cargo-related injuries. Cargo loading and unloading is generally performed with heavy machinery, like cranes. If a rope slips or snaps while under tension, it could result in a piece of cargo falling and colliding with the workers on board the ship. It’s necessary to follow the weight and load guidelines to prevent this from happening.

These are just a few of many kinds of injuries that could take place in the maritime industry. If you’re working in this field, make sure you understand what you can do to stay safe. There are many hazards, but good safety precautions can help.

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