Don’t let the Texas heat fool you – the waters off the coast can actually get quite cold in the winter. While water temps tend to hover around 86F in July and August, temperatures plummet to about 53F in January. Those chilly waters bring increased risks to maritime workers and others because the possibility of hypothermia is very real after… The post Hypothermia and cold water: What to know first appeared on Manuel Gonzales, PC ..read more

Fatigue is a silent but dangerous contributor to accidents and injuries in various industries, particularly longshore work and maritime operations. These demanding fields require workers to juggle handling heavy equipment, operating in challenging weather conditions and maintaining constant vigilance to help ensure safety at all hours. Working around the clock, enduring irregular shifts and taking on physically taxing tasks can… The post Fatigue: The silent culprit in longshore accidents first appeared on Manuel Gonzales, PC ..read more

Longshoremen are blue-collar workers who perform jobs at harbors. Their jobs are partially terrestrial and partially maritime. While they may load and unload off of docks, they may also have to enter or access vessels. Therefore, there are substantially more workplace hazards for longshoremen than there are for those working standard warehousing jobs. While job responsibilities may be largely similar, the possibility of catastrophic injury is higher. The compensation process is also significantly more complex for those working as longshoremen or at harbors as opposed to those working at terres ..read more

Maritime workers work under some of the most hazardous conditions, making them prone to workplace injuries. Danger is always lurking, from heavy machinery and equipment to unpredictable weather and rough seas. As a maritime worker, understanding your legal rights in the event of an injury in the line of duty can help protect your interests and ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve. Here is what you need to know. The laws that apply If you qualify as a seaman, the Jones Act provides maintenance and cure benefits after a workplace accident. These benefits cover your living expense ..read more

Offshore work locations are rife with job hazards. Workers in maritime environments have to consider extreme weather, separation from loved ones and other risk factors when deciding if a job is the right option for them. They typically also need to accept a certain degree of risk related to their employment. Sometimes, the decisions that individual workers and their employers make can exacerbate existing work hazards. For offshore employees ranging from professional fishermen to oil rig workers, personal safety devices could be the difference between a serious injury and a fatality on the job ..read more

Whether it’s onshore or offshore, the consequences of accidents can be catastrophic. Nevertheless, it’s crucial to understand the key differences between onshore and offshore maritime accidents.  Comprehending each scenario’s unique challenges and factors can enable maritime workers to seek compensation for injuries incurred in either accident.  Causes of onshore maritime accidents Onshore maritime accidents primarily occur in ports, harbors and coastal areas. The most common cause of onshore accidents is human error. This can involve mistakes the crew, operators or even port authori ..read more

The occurrence of maritime explosions is a pressing concern affecting the shipping industry, the environment and human lives.  Understanding the intricacies of how maritime explosions happen is paramount for safeguarding against potential disasters and helping ensure the safety of vessels at sea.  The catastrophic potential of maritime explosions Maritime explosions are destructive events that can result in significant damage, loss of life and environmental disasters. They occur onboard vessels, oil rigs and other maritime structures, posing a significant risk to offshore operations ..read more

Cruise ships are busy places, and there are usually a lot of people in high spirits onboard.  As usual in those kinds of situations, accidents can and do happen – and people sometimes end up going overboard. Unfortunately, the odds of survival once someone goes overboard are slim. Here’s why: 1. There’s often alcohol involved Cruise ships are meant for relaxation and fun, but guests are sometimes drastically over-served at the ship’s bars. That can lead to impulsive acts and poor decisions that can cause someone to go overboard – and their level of intoxication can make survival harder si ..read more

Those who choose to work at the harbor join a profession that requires multiple skills. The work can be physically and mentally taxing. It can include loading and unloading cargo, securing goods within their vessels, inspecting for damage, and creating plans to help manage the workflow. Other options include that of the harbor pilot. This is a skilled and highly trained individual that basically takes over the operation of a vessel to safely navigate it into the harbor. Although the days are long, the work is gratifying. Harbor workers are essential to keeping the country running smoothly. Wit ..read more

Professional fishermen work very exhausting and demanding jobs. They may have to report for work long before the sun rises and may work for much longer than the average person in a factory or retail environment. They are also at significantly elevated risk for injury and death on the job. Fishing vessels in the Gulf of Mexico averaged 8.6 annual worker fatalities between 2010 and 2019, and drowning was the top cause of death.  Fishermen on professional vessels can get tangled in nets, struck by moving equipment or swept overboard. If they do end up hurt on the job, they will face a somewh ..read more