For many individuals in the fishing industry, working on a commercial vessel means relying on heavy equipment every day. When that equipment begins to fail, even an experienced crew member can suffer a serious injury in seconds. Many fishermen are used to handling...
Seamen who work on the deck of a ship face serious hazards, some of which can be mitigated through proper communication. Deck work depends on being able to see what’s going on, timing actions properly and having clear instructions. When communication breaks down,...
Those working in maritime environments take daily life-and-death risks. One bad storm or one overlooked maintenance issue may be all it takes for a tragedy to occur in a maritime work environment. Families reeling after a tragedy involving an offshore worker may have...
If you are new to working at a port or shipyard, one question you may have is what happens if you suffer an injury on the job. The Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA) provides benefits for certain injuries, and understanding how it works can help...
Offshore oil and gas platforms remain some of the most dangerous work environments in the country. Workers often perform physically demanding jobs around heavy machinery, volatile materials and changing weather conditions far from immediate medical assistance....
Workers aboard commercial fishing vessels off the Pacific coastline face dangers that many of their counterparts in warmer waters do not. Perhaps the deadliest hazard aboard most West Coast vessels is the water temperature. It is fairly common for fishing crew members...
The weather can put you at risk faster than you expect in California waters. You might start with clear skies, then lose visibility or control within minutes, which forces quick action. As conditions shift, your decisions affect your crew and your vessel at the same...
You know the physical demands of working a deck in the Port of Oakland or navigating the waters of the Pacific basin. While you take pride in your strength and self-sufficiency, a single heavy lift can change your life in an instant. It is common to feel like you...
You know the heavy weight of a 20-hour shift when the coffee stops working and the deck begins to blur. Exhaustion is a constant companion for many fishermen and merchant mariners working the California coast. While you pride yourself on your grit, there is a point...
Medical experts note that amputation injuries are often life-changing events. Many amputation injuries create permanent disabilities. In some cases, people may have to deal with conditions like phantom limb syndrome, which can lead to long-term pain and discomfort,...
