The international maritime workforce comprises of more than 1.2 million seafarers scattered across the vast 620,000 kilometers of the global coastline.
Working in any maritime-related industry is a rewarding experience, both intrinsically and extrinsically.
The monetary gain and the opportunity to tour the world notwithstanding, being a seafarer, consistently places most maritime workers at harm’s way.
Considering the lengthy stay at sea, the exposure to all sorts of weather elements, and the hazardous environment, working offshore has its fair share of cons.
Are you a seafarer working offshore? You’ll continuously face exposure to numerous dangers at sea in your line of work.
The bad news is that this poses grave risks to your health and well-being.
But the good news is that you can always seek legal reprieve when this happens.
Here are six little known dangers of working offshore.
1. Fire and Explosions
The Deep Water Horizon Disaster a decade ago resulted in the death of 11 seafarers and left scores of others with life-threatening injuries.
The sheer magnitude of the explosion and the resultant fire was a reminder of the dangers at sea.
In the year 2018 alone, there were 77 fires and three major explosions within the American offshore.
Maritime works operate with the constant fears that an explosion could cause a fire with near-fatal or fatal consequences.
Fires are frequent due to the build-up of combustible fumes or poorly maintained pipeline pumps.
Sometimes collisions in the navigation channels or raptures in fuel tanks may also lead to such fires.
In case you suffer severe burn injuries or there are fatalities caused by fire and explosions, the victims are entitled to compensation.
It would be best if you considered getting in touch with an offshore injury attorney as soon as possible to commence the legal process.
Some of these severe injuries might cause a lifetime of dependency, which necessitates for life pension benefits.
2. Equipment Failures
Maritime workers use a broad range of equipment in their routine operations.
If you’re working offshore, the constant exposure to maritime cargo and crane gear can lead to inevitable risks to injuries.
Accidents can occur at any point in a vessel’s operations due to unforeseen equipment failures.
Most of the accidents related to maritime equipment failures are the result of lack of proper maintenance and training protocols.
There are genuine incidents where no precaution could prevent the inevitable while at sea. Nonetheless, some injuries are due to negligence.
Seafarers involved in such cases of maritime equipment injuries should consider seeking legal reprieve given that some of these injuries are life-long.
3. Deck Accidents
Open decks can pose life-threatening risks for seafarers working offshore. Some of the most common dangers at sea involve instances where an underlying human error exposes those offshore workers to unimagined risks.
The most common deck accidents include injuries due to falling objects, swinging cables, or improperly raised loads.
Companies engaged in seafaring should set the necessary regulations to minimize the risks of wet stairs, slippery catwalks, or unsecured ladders. These scenarios might pose grave dangers to those working offshore.
Open decks pose concerns that include loss of hands or fingers in winches of hoists.
If you’re a seafarer working offshore, such accidents that result from open decks necessitate compensation.
This is especially considering that deck accidents can lead to severe back and head injuries.
4. Health Complication Due to Exposure
Not every danger at sea manifests immediately. Most marine workers suffer from equipment and other related injuries.
But in numerous other cases, seafarers develop life-threatening health conditions over time.
Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HVAS) is the most common health hazard that manifests over time.
HVAS manifests through numbness and pains in the arms or wrist after years of operating the chipping machine or the needle guns.
Most maritime operators also develop cardiovascular diseases and cancer following extended exposure to the often toxic environment.
These common occupational hazards, when working offshore, can have life-long implications on a seafarer’s health.
5. Capsizing Vessels
One of the most common reasons why vessels capsize while at sea is due to unfavorable weather conditions. However, the consequences can be dire.
In case a vessel capsizes, it not only exposes the crew to the risk of drowning but also the possibility of injuries in the wake of the shipwreck.
In the year 2018, the United States recorded six offshore collisions, which led to vessels capsizing. Such incidents can harm the crew members.
Most maritime workers involved in accidents where vessels capsized suffer mental and physical injuries, which might be lifelong.
6. Crane Collapses
If you have been working offshore for a while, you understand that crane collapses can be extremely dangerous.
Most of the incidences of crane collapses are either due to poor workmanship or faulty maintenance schedules.
Crane collapses can lead to neck, spinal and post-traumatic injuries.
Such accidents contribute to months or even years of recovery.
When dealing with such injuries, you might have a problem making a living.
Offshore injuries involving crane collapses may also lead to debts caused by unending medical bills.
What Should You Do in the Case of an Offshore Injury?
When accidents happen while offshore, it might be hard to think straight.
However, you should do your best to get in touch with an offshore injury attorney.
You’ll be eligible for compensation if the following conditions are satisfied.
- There was inadequate training on the part of the crew members.
- The equipment in use was faulty
- The vessel lacked sufficient safety and protective gear
- Outdated machinery was in use
- The working environment was unsafe
Working Offshore Can be Rewarding Yet Hazardous
Most maritime workers operate in a somewhat hazardous environment where dangers rack everywhere.
Numerous perks make working offshore lucrative.
Even so, most maritime-related injuries can be life-threatening.
Are you a seafarer operating offshore? Your safety and well-being are always on the line owing to these six common risks.
These dangers at sea include shipwrecks, crane collapses, health complications, and deck accidents salient while at sea.
Some of these risks are inevitable while working offshore.
However, most others are due to human error or avoidable scenarios.
For this reason, you need to call in an offshore injury attorney to help you seek legal redress in case of an offshore accident.
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