Barge Injury Accidents

Tug and barge accidents happen every day. Due to the use, design and purpose of barges with the numerous decks, winches, cables, manholes, tanks, steps, ladders, and unguarded openings many slip, trip, falls and other injuries may occur. Many slip and falls occur on the wet or oily decks and stairs in which oil and other petroleum products has leaked or spilled. Other barge accidents may involve lifting injuries and from the barge or tug hitting another barge or colliding with a bridge, terminal, dock or other stationary object. All of these type of accidents can cause injuries and even death to a barge worker. Many injuries on barges occur when workers are cleaning the barge by entering tight closed spaces for cleaning or when they are inspecting of the barge tanks. Inside these tanks, workers may be injured from falls, inhaling toxic chemicals, chemical burns from corrosive cargo, encounter biological hazards or get burns from a flash fire caused by sparks or static electricity. Another constant danger or working in closed vessels or tanks, is threat of toxic chemicals or oxygen absorbing chemicals. Safe breathable air or oxygen levels must be tested and re-tested throughout the job along with a current work permit to enter such spaces.

Other barge workers may routinely be exposed to high levels of chemicals including benzene, toluene, xylene, jet fuel and other light hydrocarbon petroleum products. Exposure to benzene and benzene containing products on barges by inhaling of benzene fumes or vapors and from a dermal (skin) exposure are all too common. Benzene is known to cause acute myelogenous leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes MDS, Aplastic Anemia (AA), Multiple Myeloma, AML leukemia, blood cancers or Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL).

Barge Accidents Under the Jones Act & General Maritime Law

Barge workers are owed a safe place to work by their maritime employers and by the owners of the barges. Whether the barge worker is a tankerman, mate, Chief Officer, cook, painter, chipper, deckhand and even the Captain, the maritime employer is bound by the Jones Act to protect these workers. When injuries occur the barge worker can collect a daily wage known as “maintenance” and medical benefits called “cure”. In addition, the injured barge worker can collect normal personal injury type damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses and lost wages in past and future. If the barge had a dangerous condition or defect that caused or contributed to the seaman’s injury, then the barge owner can also be sued under General Maritime Laws for compensation for the injury and other legal damages.

Barge Accident Lawyer

If you have been injured on a barge or any vessel then call and speak to a maritime injury lawyer for a Free Confidential Case Consultation at 1-800-883-9858 or fill out our Online Form and we will get back with you usually within 1-4 hrs.