Last Updated on February 3, 2025 by Paige LeJeune
One of the more common causes of injuries on boats, barges, offshore oil rigs, and other floating vessels is slip, trip and fall accidents. These serious accidents may cause any number of disabling injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Spinal cord injury
- Paralysis (including quadriplegia and paraplegia)
- Neck injury
- Severe back injury
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Death
Offshore slips and falls are commonly caused by:
- Uneven or damaged surfaces
- Slippery or wet decks and surfaces (often without warning signs)
- Electrical cables, cords or ropes that trail across walking surfaces
- Ineffective lighting (too dim, flickering)
- Untidy decks, clutter, improper storage
How can ship owners prevent slips and falls?
1. Keep work areas clean and clutter-free. Train crew to properly stow all unused equipment.
2. Make sure work areas are well-lit.
3. Make sure stairways have handrails and slip-resistant surfacing. Use high visibility markings on the front edges of steps.
4. Ensure that all spills are cleaned immediately and that proper warnings are posted.
5. Avoid stringing cables across work areas. Affix cables so they do not pose a tripping hazard.
6. Require proper footwear.
7. Use non-skid or non-slip coatings or surfaces on deck surfaces and maintain the surfaces so they do not cause a trip hazard.
How can you prevent offshore slip and fall injuries?
1. Pay attention to the flooring where you are working and walking.
2. Keep floors and other walking and working surfaces free of debris, clutter, water, grease and other slippery substances.
3. Clean up spills as soon as they occur.
What can you do if you are seriously injured in a slip and fall accident while working at sea?
1. Get a medical exam and follow your doctor’s orders.
2. Fill out an accident report.
3. Contact The Young Firm.
4. Download a free copy of “Employee’s Guide to Maritime Injury Law.”
The Louisiana maritime attorneys at The Young Firm can help you to get your maintenance and cure benefits from your employer, and we can determine if negligence caused your slip and fall accident. If we discover that your injury was caused by unseaworthiness of the vessel or negligence on the part of the vessel owner or another party, we can help you file a Jones Act claim to recover your medical costs, lost wages, future lost earnings, pain and suffering and other losses. To learn more, call 866-666-5129.
