Like any employer in Texas, offshore employers are responsible for the safety and health of employees, along with the maritime safety standards. Maritime attorneys in Texas are increasingly aware of violations of the Jones Act and other maritime laws protecting employees’ safety. Such violations can result in injury, illness, or even death that may have been preventable had the employer not been negligent.
Maritime Safety Standards: Employer Responsibilities
Offshore employers are responsible for safe, well-maintained workplaces, be it a ship, shipyard, oil rig, or other offshore vessel. Offshore employers can be held liable for injuries sustained to employees in the following conditions:
- Employer choosing to sail in unsafe weather conditions
- Employer requiring an employee to utilize defective, broken, or ill-maintained equipment
- Employer failing to provide adequate training
- Overuse injuries sustained by constant lifting/moving of heavy objects
- Requirement of excessive hours of work resulting in exhaustion, fatigue, or illness
- Assault by the employer
Numerous other factors can contribute to negligence and the injuries negligence causes. Employers are required to observe a particular set of maritime safety standards in accordance with federal and state laws. Failure to do so can result in liability for injured employees, and liability for violations of the law. Additionally, maritime laws often require employers to follow a certain set of guidelines concerning medical care and maintenance costs experienced by injured employees.
Maritime Attorneys in Texas offer Hope for Injured Seamen
The Jones Act holds offshore employers liable for injuries caused by negligence, such as those discussed above and others. Maritime and offshore injury claims must be filed within the state’s statute of limitations, and must follow proper legal procedure. Offshore employers are legally prohibited from retaliating against employees who exercise their right to a safe and healthy workplace.
If you have questions about an injury you or someone you love sustained offshore, contact the maritime attorneys in Texas who can help you understand your rights and options for legal recovery.
Related Resources
Maritime Rights and Compensation
Sources
https://www.osha.gov/dts/maritime/
https://www.osha.gov/dts/maritime/standards.html
http://www.gaarlaw.com/Maritime-Injuries/Injuries-From-Maritime-Accidents.shtml
http://www.hg.org/article.asp?id=29464