Barge and Tankerman Accidents and Injuries

Barge workers and tankermen do important but dangerous jobs on inland waterways. They are at risk for many injuries and even fatal accidents. If you were hurt in a barge accident, contact a maritime lawyer to find out how to seek compensation.

What Are Barge Workers and Tankermen?

A barge is a large, flat-bottomed vessel that does not have its own propulsion system. Barges rely on tugboats to push or pull them. Barges are used to move various types of cargo and operate on rivers, canals, lakes, and ports.

Workers on barges do various jobs separately from the workers on tugboats. Barge workers act as deckhands and load and unload cargo. They handle lines to moor and unmoor barges. They maintain and operate the equipment.

Tankerman is a specific and skilled worker responsible for safely transferring hazardous chemicals. They work in various maritime environments, including on barges. They maintain and fix equipment and oversee transfers to protect people and the environment from the dangerous materials being loaded or unloaded.

Why Is Working on a Barge Dangerous?

All maritime jobs are inherently hazardous, and many workers suffer from accidents and injuries. Maritime work is usually physically demanding. It requires working around a lot of equipment and machinery in all kinds of weather conditions, and often for long hours. In the case of tankermen, it requires working with and around hazardous materials.

Some of the most common types of accidents that occur in barge and tankerman jobs include:

• Falls overboard
• Trips, slips, and falls
• Equipment and machinery accidents
• Fires and explosions
• Chemical exposure
• Towing line accidents
• Confined space accidents

A recent U.S. Coast Guard report found that fatalities in barge and towing accidents decreased in 2022. Accidents are still unfortunately common and result in worker injuries and deaths.

Fatalities recorded for 2022 included falls overboard, a worker who was crushed between a tugboat and barge, a worker struck by cargo, and a worker struck by a towing line. The most common cause of death in the industry over the last few decades was falling overboard.

Types of Injuries in Barge Workers and Tankermen

Fatalities are uncommon but possible. Accidents are more common in barge accidents. Barge workers and tankermen are at risk for:

• Sprains and strains
• Fractures
• Head injuries
• Crush injuries
• Burns from fire or chemicals
• Back injuries
• Heat exhaustion or heat stroke
• Toxic fume inhalation or smoke inhalation

Preventable Causes of Barge Accidents and Injuries

Barge work is naturally dangerous; some accidents could not have been prevented with better precautions. Unfortunately, most accidents could and should have been prevented. Some of the preventable causes of these incidents include:

• Inadequate worker training
• Lack of safety training, protocols, or protective gear
• Miscommunications between workers
• Crowded decks with trip hazards
• Poorly maintained or malfunctioning equipment and machinery
• Incorrectly loaded or secured cargo
• Inappropriate management of toxic and explosive cargo

Examples of Barge and Tankerman Accidents

There are many examples of real accidents that occur in the barge industry that cause injuries and fatalities. These are just some examples collected by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA):

• Three workers on a barge entered unsafe conditions without realizing it. They entered a tank that did not have enough oxygen and were asphyxiated. Two of the workers survived, and one died.
• A worker on a barge was setting up a steel pile in the water on the side of the barge. The pile was held upright by a chain. When a boat passed, creating a wake, it shifted the pile, which fell and struck the worker on the head. He died from his injuries.
• A tankerman was unloading oil from a tanker barge that fell into the Ohio River. He drowned. The fall originated on the barge, but the cause of his fall was not determined.
• A barge worker stood on the deck, waiting for a personnel basket to land. He stepped back to get out of the way and tripped over objects on the deck. He fell into 12 feet of water without a life vest. While other workers tried to recover him, their efforts were unsuccessful, and the worker drowned.

What to Do if You Are Injured in a Barge Accident

Barge accidents often cause injuries to workers, ranging from mild to severe or life-threatening. If you were hurt, getting proper medical care should be the priority. Once you have received adequate care, ensure that an accident report has been filed and that you have taken all steps to fully document the incident.

Keep records of the accident report and your medical treatment and bring them to a consultation with a maritime lawyer. Although they work on inland waterways, barge workers and tankermen are still covered by maritime laws.

A maritime lawyer can help you determine which laws, such as the Jones Act, apply to your situation. These laws allow workers to make claims or file lawsuits to recover damages. You could be entitled to compensation for current and future medical costs, lost wages, lost future earning potential, and pain and suffering.

If your loved one died in a barge accident, these laws also provide death benefits for dependents. Talk to an experienced maritime lawyer to learn about your options and to take the next steps.