Last weekend, a 55 year old diver was rescued by the Coast Guard after he was found slipping in and out of consciousness. The male diver was aboard the diving vessel Explorer at the time of his injury.
The Coast Guard responded to this Southern California maritime accident near Anacapa Island. The man was taken back to land and transported to St. John Hospital in Ventura. His identity and condition have not yet been released.
Last week, the only crewmember of the commercial fishing vessel Dirty Martha had to be rescued off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts. The crewman is 41 years old and from New Jersey. His name has not been released.
It is reported that the Dirty Martha started sinking around 11 a.m. on Thursday August 26, 2010. The crewman reported engine trouble but is unsure why the boat began taking on water.
The New Jersey fisherman involved in this commercial fishing incident was rescued by a Gloucester sailboat. He was not injured.
Last week the Bureau of Labor Statistics issued its preliminary findings regarding fatal workplace accidents during 2009. According to the BLS statistics, 57 fishing and hunting workers were killed in workplace accidents during 2009. That is equivalent to 1 percent of the workforce.
Fishing and hunting is part of a the larger agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting industry sector category. While overall the industry saw an 18% decrease in fatalities, the number of fatalities in the fishing industry actually rose. This is significant since many industries saw a decrease in fatalities due to the down economy and fewer hours worked in the industry.
If you lost a loved one in a commercial fishing accident or another other type of maritime occupational accident, please contact an experienced maritime injury lawyer for a free consultation about your legal rights.
Yesterday, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced that it will be holding a two day forum on fishing vessel safety on October 13 -14, 2010. The announcement comes after last week’s announcement by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) regarding fatal occupational accidents in 2009. According to the BLS, commercial fishing had the highest fatality rate of any occupation in the United States during 2009. The NTSB forum is designed to address safety concerns in the industry and find ways to improve safety for commercial fishermen.
The forum will bring together commercial fishermen, federal agencies, safety equipment manufacturers and others important to the safety of the commercial fishing industry. The topics are expected to include ship related issues that affect safety, lifesaving equipment, fisheries management, training of crew members and other issues.
The public is invited to attend the forum at the NTSB in Washington D.C. or to watch the live broadcast on the NTSB website.
Recently, the Washington Post published an important article regarding the Coast Guard. Joe Stevens’ article “Coast Guard Embarking On Too Many Missions Some Say” raises an important point that is important for everyone in the maritime industry to consider.
Mr. Stevens considers whether, in our post September 11 society, the Coast Guard has been given too many missions and is, effectively, spread too thin to do its job.
In the legislation following September 11, the Coast Guard was made part of the Department of Homeland Security which is an undeniably mission of critical importance. However, the added responsibilities may have impacted the Coast Guard’s previous responsibilities such as the duty to inspect offshore oil rigs for worker safety.
Some officials believe that the added Coast Guard responsibilities are a good thing and that they promote governmental efficiency. Others believe the Coast Guard is now an agency spread too thin. What do you think? Is the Coast Guard responsible for too many things? Are you, as a maritime worker, at risk of injury as a result?
Injured seaman must file a claim within three years of the injury. More on Employees Rights...