Working out at sea is dangerous. Even when you think you’re being as safe as possible, unexpected events can occur that leave you facing the risk of serious harm.
And the damages caused by these injuries can be extensive, too. You’ll probably be left without the income that you need to support yourself and your family, and your medical expenses can wreak havoc on your savings.
Not to mention that your injuries may impact your ability to enjoy life.
To avoid that kind of outcome, you may want to educate yourself on the most common types of accidents at sea so that you can work to avoid them as much as possible.
The most common causes of accidents at sea
There are a lot of different ways that you can get hurt while working out at sea. Let’s look at some of the most common and dangerous situations that oftentimes result in injuries:
- Slips: The deck of a seafaring vessel is often slippery, and even interior floors can be slick when moisture is present or when there’s been some sort of spill. Slipping and falling can cause serious head, neck, and back injuries, too, so be on the lookout for wet surfaces.
- Trips: There are often a lot of tripping hazards present on ships, too. If you’re not paying extremely close attention to where you’re going, then you could end up falling and getting hurt.
- Shifting cargo and equipment: As the ship rocks with the sea, it’s common for cargo and equipment to move during shipping. Hopefully, this movement can be minimized by proper securement, but all too often the rigging that holds these items fast is poorly done, which puts you in danger.
- Enclosed spaces: Vessels tend to have several small spaces where it can be easy to become trapped for a significant period. Regardless of how long you’re in the space, though, you can quickly be exposed to high levels of toxic fumes, and flammable materials can quickly build up and put you at risk of being burned in a fire.
- Electrical incidences: The electrical wiring on a ship is oftentimes near your movements, and if you work as an electrician then you come into direct contact with electrical currents all the time. A mishap can occur in the blink of an eye, whether due to faulty wiring or improper safety equipment, leaving you seriously injured.
- Improper training: Even if you think you know what you’re doing in your job, there’s a chance that you may have been improperly trained. This means that what you think is the right way of doing the job may be a way to cut corners, thereby putting you in harm’s way.
- Falling overboard: It may not seem like people fall overboard all that often, but this issue is more common than many people realize. So, when you’re on the deck, make sure that you’re implementing the proper safety precautions, especially if you’re maneuvering close to the edge of the ship.
Recovering what you deserve after a maritime accident
If you end up injured in a maritime accident, then you’re going to have a lot to deal with. As stressful as that can be, you may take comfort in knowing that you might be able to recoup your losses by taking legal action.
It may be a daunting thought, but you can seek out legal assistance so that you can effectively navigate your claim and increase your chances of achieving the outcome that you want.