Preventing Deckhand Injuries

As a deckhand, you are faced with all types of hazards, from slip and falls to line snapbacks, which can lead to serious maritime injuries. While compensation is available for injured crewmembers who are classified as seamen under the Jones Act, who wants to get injured in the first place?

A major maritime accident can disrupt your life and even keep you from returning to work in the same capacity. It is therefore crucial that you take steps to prevent a deckhand injury.

Below is a list of precautions to take when working aboard a vessel:

1. Stretch before work. You can minimize your risk of sustaining a soft tissue injury by taking the time to warm up before tackling your work tasks.

2. Lift the right way. Keep your back straight, bend your knees and squat when lifting heavy objects to avoid a serious back strain or other injury.

3. Relieve awkward positions. As a deckhand, you spend a lot of time on your feet and you need to pay careful attention to your posture to decrease your chances of a painful injury.

4. Watch out for slick surfaces. When you work on the water, slippery surfaces seem inevitable. Decks can also get oily, creating a serious fall hazard.

5. Stay out of the bight of the line. Never put your hand or foot in the bight of the line at the bitt, if the boat heaves, you could instantly be caught.

Even when you take special precautions, you still may find yourself injured in an offshore accident. If you have been hurt offshore and you believe that negligence was involved, you should contact an experienced Jones Act lawyer at the Houston Law Offices of Vujasinovic & Beckcom P.L.L.C. at 877.724.7800. We provide honest answers and advice.

Be sure to order your free copy of maritime attorney Brian Beckcom’s book, Insider's Guide to Winning Your Maritime Injury Case.