Safety Tips During Man Overboard Drills on Jones Act Vessels

Once, a boat crew was running a "man overboard drill" on a Jones Act vessel and attempted to recover a dummy in the water. One of the seamen leaned over the railing to reach the dummy and fell into the water when the handrail gave way. The man overboard drill quickly became a real scenario. It's important to treat safety drills as if they are the real thing, and there are certain tips you can keep in mind while running drills that will minimize the possibility of actual harm. If you are injured in an accident, contact a Louisiana Jones Act lawyer at the Young Law Firm who can help you file a claim for your injuries.

To stay safe during drills: 

• adhere to your company's best practices and procedures as closely as possible;
• use Jason's cradle instead of leaning on hand rails;
• all hand rails should be checked for damage and stability every week;
• discuss safety alerts with your crew; and
• most importantly - treat drills like the real thing. 

As a crewmember aboard a Jones Act vessel, remember that in order to be eligible for the protections of the Jones Act should you ever be injured in an accident, you must demonstrate that you were not negligent, and thereby, that you did not contribute to your own injuries. Demonstrating your own familiarity with safety protocol is useful in proving the negligence on the part of the vessel owner. Speak with a Louisiana Jones Act lawyer who can help craft your case if you're hurt.

Contact The Young Law Firm

Maritime law provides you with certain protections your employer may not want you to know about. Just like ocean accidents require the attention of a federal body, the Coast Guard, maritime accidents fall under federal law. A maritime law attorney from The Young Law Firm in New Orleans, Louisiana, can help you if you have suffered boating accident injuries, an offshore accident or other injuries that fall under maritime law or the Jones Act. Though we are based in Louisiana, we are ready and able to help injured victims throughout the U.S. Order our free Maritime Injury Law guide and/or our guide to what to do when you are injured offshore to learn all about your rights as an injured worker.

When you are ready to get started with your Jones Act injury case, we urge you to contact us today for a FREE case evaluation - call 504-680-4100 or toll-free at 866-938-6113.