Working in a maritime profession is inherently dangerous. Individuals are one major storm or equipment failure away from catastrophic injury or death. Sometimes, factors within the control of an employer contribute to the overall risk that maritime workers have on the job.
The failure to provide adequate training or safety equipment can make a major difference. So can the number of other employees present on the vessel or actively working at any given time. Understaffing is a common practice in many industries, but in some, it can be downright perilous.
For those in the maritime sector, a lack of adequate coworkers on hand can directly result in preventable injuries and fatalities.
How understaffing undermines safety
The fewer workers there are on a vessel, the greater the potential for something to go wrong without people noticing right away. What starts as a minor safety issue can quickly become a catastrophic incident without enough workers on hand.
Employees working on vessels may be more likely to cut corners regarding safety standards when they are under pressure due to a lack of coworkers on the clock. Some of the most significant incidents on vessels occur when they only have skeleton crews aboard. The few workers operating the vessel may not have the time to fulfill every safety-critical job function.
They may not have anyone present to monitor them when they engage in high-risk job functions, such as welding or working with nets on the deck during times of inclement weather. Without co-workers aware of when a worker goes overboard, there may not be anyone there to assist them.
Understaffing is a controllable risk
All too often, companies put robust profit margins ahead of worker safety. They want to make money so badly that they fail to consider how their choices may affect the safety of their employees.
Operating a vessel with a skeleton crew or the bare minimum of workers required for compliance can constitute negligence on the part of a maritime business. Establishing negligence is a key component of a maritime worker’s injury claim. Fault governs requests for medical compensation and wage replacement brought under the Jones Act.
Recognizing understaffing as an easily preventable form of workplace risk may inspire maritime workers to hold employers accountable for their unsafe practices that may lead to maritime injuries or worse. Workers should not have to shoulder the safety burden that comes from a company trying to keep payroll expenses low.