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

The harbors around Texas see a huge amount of shipping traffic. It is quite cost-effective to move merchandise and consumer goods using large shipping vessels, and the ports of entry where those vessels arrive when transporting goods to the United States are often bustling with workers.  Harbor workers face numerous threats on the job, not the least of which is their proximity to the water. Many of them will have to operate or work near heavy machinery that could cause struck-by incidents or crushing injuries. Although harbor workers may do most of their work on the land and only part of ..read more

Professionals that accept jobs in the offshore oil and gas industry often receive very competitive wages and excellent benefits in return for their labor. The long shifts away from home, possibly lasting many weeks at a time, and the increased risk of job injuries when compared with those in other professions are among the reasons that oil and gas workers receive more competitive wages.  There are risks around every corner on an oil rig, and workers have to be aware of heavy machinery, chemical exposure and the ongoing possibility of fire or an explosion. With all of those very dramatic a ..read more

Performing work at an offshore job site could mean that someone is at work for multiple days in a row and far from family. Professionals in offshore employment arrangements, including fishermen, cruise ship employees and oil and gas workers, have significant injury risks related to their employment.  Issues ranging from fires to drownings could leave them in need of medical care and unable to earn income to support themselves and their families. Unlike those who work in mainland Texas, offshore and maritime workers don’t get to file workers’ compensation claims. Do they have any protectio ..read more

Offshore contractors construct, maintain and operate offshore facilities around the US coasts. They often use special purpose vehicles to help with the rapid progression of offshore facilities in the wind industry. Texas and other states are looking into offshore wind facilities to increase their energy output. People on offshore wind facilities should understand the US Jones Act cabotage laws and legal regimes covering various employees. Workers of offshore wind operations Offshore wind operation employees include maritime employees, Jones Act seamen and other non-maritime employees. Many emp ..read more