Harbor workers and longshore professionals who do their jobs at the docks are vulnerable to injury. All it takes is one missed step or the failure to monitor their surroundings for a serious injury to occur.
Accidental contact with machinery can cause broken bones, amputations and nerve damage. Near-drownings can cause brain damage and physical injuries. Falls caused by wet surfaces can lead to a variety of injuries.
Dock workers may find that their injuries impact their long-term earning potential and ability to continue their chosen profession. They may need help offsetting their losses.
Not all injuries heal completely
Most of the time, people with fractures make a full recovery. However, some broken bones are more severe than others. Broken bones that push through the skin or break in multiple places can be much more devastating for people than simple fractures. Amputations and brain injuries can have permanent consequences. Spinal cord injuries and nerve damage can also cause permanent functional limitations.
Serious injuries can affect strength and range of motion, which can be dangerous for those working in a dock or harbor environment. They can also cause chronic pain that can impact an individual’s focus and their overall job performance.
In scenarios where harbor and longshore workers sustain injuries with permanent consequences, they may have a complicated process ahead of them. They may be eligible for benefits, including wage-related benefits, under the federal Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act (LHWCA). Professionals who can no longer maintain the same jobs and have to accept a reduction in wages might be eligible for benefits that replace some of their lost income.
Discussing the workplace incident and the medical consequences it created can help injured harbor and dock workers start to evaluate their options. The benefits available to them under federal law can help take some of the pressure off when an injury affects their income.