Confined Spaces Injuries in the Maritime Industry

Maritime workers face multiple dangers on the job, including those associated with working in tight, confined spaces. These spaces exist on ships, on offshore drill rigs, and in shipyards, and workers can suffer physical injuries, chemical exposures, and even fatalities. Hazard assessments, safety training, safety gear, and other measures are necessary to protect workers in confined spaces.

Facts About Confined Space Injuries in Maritime Settings

The U.S. Coast Guard issued a safety alert in 2019 to highlight the risks and dangers associated with working in confined spaces in maritime workplaces. This came after an incident in which three workers died from asphyxiation on a laid-up mobile offshore drilling unit.

Several factors contributed to the incident, which may be common in other maritime workplaces: lack of training for confined space work, lack of safety gear, and poor decision-making. The Coast Guard issued the alert to raise awareness of the real and serious risks of working in confined spaces.

Statistics collected by InterManager show that 310 people have died in confined space accidents in the maritime industry since 1996. This included 224 mariners or seamen and 86 shore-based workers. There were 31 confined spaces fatalities in 2023, with eight occurring in just one week in December.

What Is a Confined Space?

In addition to being a small, tight space in which it might be difficult to move freely, a confined space in the maritime industry has several characteristics:

• Confined spaces have limited openings to allow for entry and exit.
• Ventilation in these spaces is inadequate, which can allow for the accumulation of toxic fumes or low oxygen levels.
• Confined spaces are not designed for continuous occupancy by workers. Time spent in these spaces should be limited.

How Do Workers Get Hurt in Confined Maritime Spaces?

There are several dangers associated with working in a confined area in the maritime industry, regardless of whether that space is on a ship, in a shipyard, or on an offshore rig:

Inhalation Injuries

One of the significant hazards of tight spaces is the poor ventilation. This can cause several issues that can harm or even kill a worker:

• Lack of oxygen is one of the primary dangers of working in these spaces. This is called asphyxiation and is the leading cause of death in confined spaces in any industry. For worker safety, oxygen in a confined space should be between 19.5% and 23.5%. It often drops lower than this due to rusting, which consumes oxygen from the air, and lack of airflow.
• Inhalation of toxic fumes is also a risk in confined spaces. Because of poor ventilation, fumes accumulate and can cause harm. A worker can suffer skin, eye, or airway irritation depending on the substance. Toxic fumes can also be fatal.

Physical Injuries

Workers in tight spaces can suffer physical injuries, including crush injuries, fractures, head, back, or neck injuries, cuts, burns, and others. Workers are at risk of these kinds of injuries in tight spaces due to several factors:

• Restricted movements
• Inability to get out quickly
• Poor lighting
• Slippery or sloping surfaces
• Ladders that might have corroded or broken rungs
• Elevated work surfaces

Fire is always dangerous in maritime work environments but can be especially hazardous for workers in tight spaces. The heat of a fire confined to a small space can cause severe burns more quickly. It’s also more difficult for a worker to get out of a tight space in the event of a fire. Poor ventilation can rapidly lead to smoke inhalation and oxygen deprivation.

Preventing Confined Space Accidents and Injuries

Employers have a responsibility to provide workers with the safest possible work environment. Maritime workplaces are inherently dangerous, but careful planning and preventative steps can lower risks.

Employers must identify, evaluate, and control dangers associated with confined workspaces. This means collecting and organizing information about hazards in confined spaces, determining how to manage those hazards, and implementing control measures. Efforts to control and limit harm should also be evaluated and updated over time.

Some of the specific things employers should do to improve safety when working in confined places include:

• Implementing fall protection systems
• Ensuring work platforms, entryways, and exits are in good condition
• Maintaining ladders in good condition, ensuring they are secure, and using portable ladders when necessary
• Providing appropriate safety gear and ensuring workers wear it
• Providing adequate lighting for working in confined spaces
• Equipping workers with emergency lighting in the case of falls or power loss
• Using a buddy system when workers are in confined spaces
• Regularly checking on workers in confined spaces
• Testing the air in confined spaces and ensuring workers wear appropriate ventilators or masks
• Training workers to operate in confined spaces and only allowing trained workers to enter the spaces
• Practicing emergency drills involving confined space incidents

Laws That Protect Injured Maritime Workers

Regardless of where in the maritime industry you work, laws are in place to provide you with options if you are injured on the job. If you are a seaman, the Jones Act allows you to sue for damages when negligence causes injuries.

If you work on shore, you may be covered by the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA). This federal law provides workers’ compensation and does not require you to prove negligence caused your injury.

The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act extends the LHWCA to offshore workers. This covers workers on oil rigs and platforms injured in confined spaces. It is also a form of workers’ compensation. All of these laws also provide benefits for the dependents of workers who die in workplace accidents.

Contact a Maritime Lawyer if You Were Injured in a Confined Space

Maritime laws and compensation claims extend to workers harmed in confined space accidents. You have rights if you were hurt working in one of these dangerous areas. Contact a maritime lawyer to review your case and determine your next steps.

A maritime lawyer is experienced in helping workers make claims, file lawsuits, and get the benefits they are entitled to. They give you the best chance of recovering damages for medical costs, lost wages, and more.