Longshoreman and other maritime employees are exposed to unique job hazards on a daily basis. It is important to understand and follow posted safety instructions and to arrive at work alert and prepared for the day to avoid injury.
Standard Safety Regulations
Hard hats, seatbelts, visibility vests, and other safety equipment are provided for a reason. Statistics show that proper use of these items can help longshoremen and other workers prevent accidents or protect themselves if an accident occurs. Similarly, it is important to obey all posted speed limits and other traffic control devices to minimize the potential for injuries and accidents.
Avoiding the Bight
Traditionally, the expression “avoiding the bight” was used to remind longshore workers to stay away from loops of wire or rope in the cargo rigging. However, for today’s longshoremen, it applies to other perils of working cargo on the terminals as well. When working around any cargo-handling equipment, it is most important to be aware of your surroundings and to be sure that the operator of the machine knows where you are located at all times.
Blind Spots
The blind spots on cargo-handling equipment such as forklifts and large trucks can present a major hazard for longshore workers, and if everyone is focused on his or her own task at hand, injuries can occur. It is essential that you understand where the blind spots are located and are alert when working around these large machines. Additionally, always wait to be acknowledged by the driver when walking near equipment to avoid being caught off guard by a sudden change of direction.
Proper Training
One of the most basic ways to avoid putting yourself and others at risk is to never operate a piece of equipment that you have not been properly trained to use. Also, be sure that your training on specific equipment is current. For example, crane operators should be knowledgeable about recent crane safety signal updates. This helps to ensure that communication between workers is consistent at all times, promoting the safety of everyone.
Taking safety precautions can help keep longshore workers and other maritime employees safe, but an accident can still occur at any time. Our maritime law office in Pennsylvania and New Jersey has proven this point again and again.
