If you asked the general public what the riskiest thing about working at sea was, they’d probably answer it was the risk of drowning. While falling overboard is a serious concern and can often be fatal, it can usually be prevented fairly easily (although exceptions...
In any industry, fatigue raises the odds that a serious mistake will lead to job-related injuries. For instance, one study determined that roughly two-thirds of all workers claimed they had been so tired on the job that they had made errors. Another 41% added that...
Working on ships can be bad for your ears. It does not matter whether you work on them at sea or on the dock – they are always noisy. Many work environments are noisy at times, but ships can be louder than most, and the noise can be more constant than most. Combined,...
If you work on a ship, it’s crucially important that the boat has all of the different safety systems and devices that you need in the event of an accident or some other sort of maritime incident. Without these in place, workers could face far too great of risks. For...
In many ways, the risks that workers face on a ship are similar to the ones that they would face in any other profession. A worker could fall from a ladder while climbing on a construction site or climbing up to the next level of a freighter. A worker could be injured...
Most anyone who has gone scuba diving knows about decompression sickness. It can happen when a person ascends too quickly to the water’s surface. That’s because there’s a rapid pressure decrease that has a noticeable effect on the body. Namely, it causes gas bubbles...
The maritime industry provides a sustainable source of employment for workers across the state of California. While the industry brings multiple benefits, it’s no secret that operating on the waterways can be hazardous. For this reason, the maritime community has...
Working on a ship can be a dangerous job – many people don’t realize the dangers that can happen on open seas. Maritime workers can be seriously injured, causing major changes in their life and work. If you’re expected to be out on the sea for some time, the chances...
The maritime industry employs thousands of Americans. If you are a seaman, you have probably heard about the Jones Act. Also known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, the Jones Act is a federal statute that requires companies to use US-built and registered ships when...
The handling and managing of bulk freight aboard a cargo ship occur largely via automation. However, commercial seamen must still work with and near cargo as part of their job duties. Unfortunately, working around dry bulk freight can expose these seamen to many...
