The fishing industry employs a lot of people in the Pacific Northwest. While this career can be a calling for some, it certainly has risks that cause others to avoid it. Those who end up hurt on the job can face significant losses, including impacts on physical health, mental well-being and financial stability. That’s why it’s best to try to avoid these injuries if possible.
But what injuries do fishermen oftentimes face? Let’s take a closer look so that you know what to look out for as you work in this field.
Most common injuries suffered by workers in the fishing industry
Here are some of the most common accidents in the fishing industry that could put you at risk of harm:
- Falling overboard: Working onboard a seafaring vessel will put you on unsteady footing where slick surfaces abound. You might also be forced to reach over the edge of your employer’s vessel to grab netting or load cargo onto another ship. These factors can make the recipe for a fall overboard. If you do fall, then you could develop hypothermia, be crushed between vessels, or drown.
- Slipping and falling: With wet and slick surfaces being found around the ship, there’s a decent chance that you’re going to slip at some point. If that slip leads to a fall, then you could suffer a debilitating back injury, broken bones, torn ligaments, or strained and torn muscles. Any of these injuries can knock you out of work for a significant period.
- Using repetitive motion: Making the same motion in your daily work can wear on your body over time, leading to back, neck, shoulder, and wrist injuries. For some fisherman, there’s simply no way to avoid conducting the same movements over and over again on a daily basis at their job.
- Being burned: Many vessels carry combustible material that, when improperly stored or handled, can cause a fire or an explosion. Even hot oil in food preparation can be dangerous, plus the caustic chemicals found in engine rooms.
- Suffering a penetrating injury: Fishermen often have to work with sharp equipment. When an accident occurs and one of those sharp objects penetrates the skin, significant damage can be caused. Making matters worse is that many of these wounds end up infected, which can lead to a whole host of other problems.
With these injuries in mind, you should do everything you can to try to protect yourself at work. Be aware of your surroundings, wear proper protective equipment, and follow your employer’s safety protocols.
While those steps might help you reduce the risk of injury, they won’t completely eliminate it. If you end up injured at sea or while otherwise performing your job duties, then you need to think about taking legal action to protect your interests.
Don’t lose out on the compensation you deserve
If you don’t take legal action after suffering a maritime injury, or you put forward a sloppily developed claim, then you’ll lose out on the compensation you need to offset your losses, which can include medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and lost wages. So, in the aftermath of your injury, aggressively build the effective maritime law case that will protect your interests and maximize your chances of recovering what you’re owed.