Maritime Crane Accidents
On board most Alaska commercial fishing vessels is a crane. The vessel’s crane is commonly used in the fishing operation as well as in cargo handling. The vessel’s crane is a workhorse to the fishing operation. Proper operation of the vessel’s crane is critical to a crewman’s safety aboard commercial fishing vessels. An unseaworthy crane or a negligently operated crane can cause death or an injury that lasts a lifetime.
Before any operation involving the vessel’s crane, the crew should hold a safety meeting and address the hazards of the tasks to be performed. Crane signals should be reviewed. To be seaworthy, the vessel’s crane must be properly maintained; the crane operator must be properly and thoroughly trained in crane safety; cables and lines must be in good condition; and hooks must have safety clasps. The crane should not be overloaded. Loads should never be lifted over a crewman’s head. Cranes should be inspected annually and unsafe cranes should never be used. Utmost care should be used when working with the crane in high seas and in rough weather.
A crane signalman should be designated and only one person should give signal directions to the crane operator. All crewmen and operators should be trained in how and when to give an emergency stop signal.
We Are Alaska’s Premier Maritime Injury Law Firm
The maritime injury lawyers at Trueb Berne & Beard, LLP, have over eight decades of combined experience representing crewmen injured in vessel crane accidents. They have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for seriously injured crewmen injured by defective cranes and unsafe crane operation.
In serious crane accident cases, it is important to begin the safety investigation into the cause of the accident and how it could have been prevented as soon as possible. The equipment involved in the accident should be preserved as evidence and the statements of the crane operator and crewman that witnessed the accident should be taken and deposed. The area and equipment should be photographed and videotaped. Copies of all crane maintenance records should be preserved. Failure to conduct an early investigation can result in the equipment being lost and memories failing.
Let us put our experience handling maritime crane injury accidents to work for you. Contact us online or call 907-802-4559 for a free initial consultation about your rights to compensation under federal maritime law.