Jones Act Safety and the Gulf Coast Commercial Fisherman

With the profession listed as number one on all top ten lists of most dangerous jobs, commercial fishing safety must be taken seriously. Too many times fishermen are injured or even killed because their employers have not been careful enough.

Under the Jones Act, you have a right to a "safe place to work." Your employer should make sure your vessel is properly equipped and maintained, you and your co-workers are properly trained and there are enough workers to do the job safely and well.

The United States Coast Guard, citing the fact that fatalities in the fishing industry are five times higher than those for other domestic vessels, has set as their objective to "reduce fishing vessel casualties to levels approaching that of other commercial vessels."

How can that be accomplished? The Coast Guard has devised the "Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Program (CFVS), which includes:

• Education
• Voluntary inspection of vessels 
• Public awareness 
• Enforcement of existing safety rules

The point of this program is to help owners and operators to know the rules and follow them. However, as all fishermen know, sometimes shortcuts are taken. If it is too expensive, safety equipment may go unrepaired or never even installed, crew will be cut, the vessel may be unseaworthy, weather warnings may be ignored and seamen may be put on jobs they have not been trained to do.

The Young Firm in New Orleans knows the dangers you face each day as a fisherman and urge you to pursue your rights when you have been wronged. Call us today toll free at (866) 938-6113. And be sure to order a free copy of our publication, 6 Secrets Your Company May Not Tell You When You Get Injured Offshore.