Work on boats, oil rigs and other water vessels is inherently dangerous work. Research shows that there is one relatively simple preventative measure that these workers can take to decrease their chances of suffering an on-the-job injury: Using personal protective equipment.
Their use of personal protective equipment can greatly minimize these workers’ injury risk. The items that workers can benefit from having on hand vary depending on their maritime role, but certain pieces of equipment can be beneficial for anyone working in this industry.
What is the most critical PPE for maritime workers to have on hand?
All maritime workers can benefit from donning the following PPE while working:
- A hard hat
- Combination slip-resistant and steel-toed shoes
- A reflective or brightly colored vest
Additional PPE, such as earmuffs or earplugs, safety glasses, a full-body suit or coveralls, gloves or a respirator, may also be necessary for a maritime worker to wear dependent on their job role.
How can PPE protect maritime workers?
While the water vessel’s staff can generally treat relatively minor injuries onboard, more serious ones may require a maritime worker’s evacuation. The problem with treatment is that it can take some time to facilitate a rescue necessary to get a worker in critical condition the care they need.
Many workers who suffer relatively minor injuries can return to work soon after they get hurt, but others with more profound injuries can’t do so. Fortunately, there are laws in place that protect all types of maritime workers, whether they have short or long-term medical needs, lost wages and other accident-related concerns.
Making sense of what law applies to you and how to request benefits can be challenging, so you’ll want to take time to learn about the different options and application requirements now.