Tennessee tug captain files personal injury lawsuit against employer

A Tennessee tugboat captain is suing employer Sevenson Environmental Services Inc. for disabling arm and wrist injuries suffered after falling down a ladderwell.

The 52-year-old from Orlinda, Tenn., whose name was not made available in the story appearing in Offshore Injuries.com, was piloting a truckable tug as part of the Kingston Recovery Project on the Tennessee Valley Authority.

The event in question allegedly happened as follows. On Feb. 14, 2010, the plaintiff was heading down to check on the engine room. He opened a hatch which had been modified by the company and placed on hinges. The revised configuration did not leave any place to grab onto while beginning to climb down the ladder.

Moreover, Sevenson had altered the stairwell to a steeper angle of descent.

As the plaintiff tried to climb down the ladder—there was no handrail—he slipped on hydraulic fluid on one of the steps (with no non-skid) and fell onto the floor, smacking his head, back, hip and arm in the process.

The captain suffered fractures to his right radial shaft, right ulnar styloid and right wrist. On July 10, 2010 he underwent surgery of his wrist and ulna.

He is presently disabled.

Sevenson Environment Services is accused of providing an unseaworthy vessel. It is based in Niagara Falls, NY.