What is the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act? How can it affect your injury case? The maritime attorneys at the New Orleans Young Firm explain.

The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA)defines the outer continental shelf as any and all submerged lands that are lying beyond state coastal waters, three miles or more from shore, that are under United States jurisdiction.

One of the major purposes of the OCSLA is to allow the Secretary of the Interior to grant leases for the exploration and development of minerals, oil and other natural resources. More importantly, for offshore workers, the OCSLA extends the benefits of the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act (LHWCA) to non-seamen who are employed on the outer continental shelf.

This means that if you are working on the subsoil or seabed of the outer continental shelf, or if you work on an artificial island, installation or any other facility that meets following requirements, you may be eligible for compensation under the LHWCA if you are injured while on the job.

To qualify the facility or structure that you work on must be

• Permanently or temporarily attached to the outer continental shelf and it has been erected on the seabed of the outer continental shelf and its presence on the outer continental shelf is for the purpose of exploring, developing or producing natural resources from the outer continental shelf (for example, a stationary oil platform).

• OR, it is permanently or temporarily attached to the seabed of the outer continental shelf, is not a ship or a vessel, but its purpose is to transport natural resources from the outer continental shelf (for example, a pipeline).

To qualify, your job must support operations to explore for, develop, remove or transport by pipeline the natural resources of the outer continental shelf.

The LHWCA allows qualified injured workers to receive federal workers’ compensation type benefits for their injuries without regard to fault. The compensation is more limited than that allowed under the Jones Act or Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA).

Determining the compensation that an offshore worker is entitled to can be tricky. If you have been injured while working off shore, don’t sign anything until you talk to an experienced maritime attorney. You may be giving up your rights.

Contact the New Orleans office of The Young Firm. Unlike other firms, we only represent injured maritime workers. We are experts in the Jones Act, DOHSA, LHWCA, OCSLA and other maritime law. We can advise you on which laws cover you case and how to get all the compensation that you are entitled to. Call us for a free consultation.