Is Working on a Dredge Dangerous?

Dredging vessels make the waterways of the United States navigable. As the offshore industry’s workhorses, they make the billions of dollars generated by it practical and possible. From shipping operations to oil and gas excavation, dredgers make important work possible and, on each vessel, there’s a crew of workers who make everything possible.

Onshore, construction work is one of the most dangerous occupations. For dredging work, a type of offshore construction work, this statistic remains true—working on a dredging vessel might be one of the most dangerous jobs for Americans working offshore.

What Research Says About Dredging Safety

AdvisorSmith, a company that researches insurance for small businesses, dredging is one of the most dangerous jobs in America. A 2017 report from the company analyzed worker fatality numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. According to the report, there were 42.4 fatalities for every 100,000 workers on dredgers in 2017, making it the sixth most dangerous job in the nation that year.

Why Is Working on a Dredge Dangerous?

Working on a dredge doesn’t have to be dangerous. Though they have inherent dangers, all risks associated with working on a dredging vessel can be mitigated enough to prevent serious accidents, injuries, and deaths for workers.

Common causes of dredge accidents include:

• Poor safety procedures: Every aspect of dredging should be blanketed with the reassurance of safety practices. All machinery should be maintained and all crew members should be adequately trained and prepared to do their job safely.
• Inadequate planning: Dredges clear the way for other vessels in shipping channels and waterways. This means that dredging vessels work in conjunction with ships from all types of industries—a quality that makes planning essential. People in charge of dredging operations need to make sure they can do their job around other vessels, that they plan for possible hazards such as pipelines, and that they clearly communicate and collaborate with other companies as needed.
• Collisions: As mentioned above, dredges frequently work around other vessels. This makes a moment of inattention one that can cause a serious collision between vessels.

What Happens After a Dredging Accident?

After dredging accidents, workers are often left to pick up the pieces of their lives. This often means addressing the financial repercussions associated with their injuries. At Arnold & Itkin LLP, our dredge accident lawyers are ready to help workers recover losses from an accident they didn’t cause by using the Jones Act, a law designed to protect offshore workers.

Dredging workers can use the Jones Act to recover losses such as:

• Lost wages
• Medical bills
• Cost of future care
• Pain and suffering
• And more

If you need help, finding out more about your options is free when you call our dredge accident lawyers at (888) 346-5024. We’ve recovered billions of dollars for clients, including those facing the hardhsips of accidents caused by large offshore companies. We always fight for answers, we never settle for less, and we’re ready to help you when you call right now.