Electrical systems are crucial to running all ships in the maritime industry but can also cause accidents. When not used or maintained correctly, electrical equipment can cause shocks, start fires, and, if it fails, cause other vital equipment to fail. If you work aboard a ship, whether as an electrician or not, you could be at risk for injury or even death when electrical systems malfunction.
Electrical Systems on Ships
Most ships house a generator room, which is the heart of the electrical systems. Generators provide the electricity needed to run lighting and equipment aboard a ship.
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International regulations require ships to have a backup generator in case the main piece of equipment fails. This is a necessary precaution, as electricity is essential to the proper functioning of most ships.
Many ships have three generators to stay compliant. If one fails, the ship will still have two, as required.
Most ships also have a central switchboard, from which workers operate various parts of the ship. The switchboard distributes power to lighting boards, smaller control panels, motor controls, emergency switchboards, and other important equipment controllers.
The switchboard is often located below the water line, putting it at risk of failing during flooding or sinking. To counteract this, an emergency system is typically kept higher on the ship.
Other parts of the electrical systems of a ship include motor controls for various equipment and auxiliary services.
Common Electrical Accidents and Injuries
Three of the most common types of incidents involving electrical systems aboard ships can cause accidents and injuries ranging from mild to severe. They have even been known to lead to fatalities.
These three common electrical system accidents are electrical shocks, fires, and system failures. Shocks are especially common as individual incidents. Fires and outages may affect the entire ship and its operation and jeopardize the safety of the whole crew.
Electrical Shocks
Electrical shocks occur when crew members are not adequately trained to work with electrical equipment. Inadequate training is dangerous, as doing something incorrectly when working with electrical systems can cause shock.
A shock may also occur when electrical equipment is not well-maintained. The consequences of receiving a shock can range from mild discomfort to death.
Between these two extremes, a worker receiving an electrical shock may experience:
- Pain
- Heart attack
- Burns
- Injuries associated with involuntary muscle contractions or being thrown into objects
Electrical Fires
Electrical fires are also severe hazards aboard ships and are most likely caused by faulty or improperly maintained electrical equipment.
Regardless of how they start, ship fires can be very dangerous. They can lead to:
- Smoke inhalation injuries
- Burns
- Falls overboard
- Damage to the ship that can lead to sinking
Electrical Outages
Total electrical outages aboard ships can also be dangerous. Without lighting, workers can trip, fall, and be injured. Without navigation systems, ships may collide with other vessels or structures or run aground.
Protecting Against Electrical Shocks
Electrical shocks are some of the most common electrical accidents on vessels. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), most electrical shocks are caused by:
- Unsafe equipment
- Equipment that has not been installed correctly
- Water near the electrical equipment
- Unsafe work practices
OSHA reports that all workers, including those on ships or in other maritime environments, should have a safe environment for working around electrical equipment.
To protect workers, grounding, insulation, guards, protective wear, and good training in procedures and safety should be in place. Employers are responsible for providing electrical safety measures.
How Severe Are Electrical Injuries?
Electrical shocks can be severe and cause real physical injury, permanent damage, and even death if severe. How severe a shock is depends on the amount of current running through a circuit.
- A shock with one to five milliamperes of current causes effects that range from tingling to pain but is not usually serious.
- Up to 25 to 30 milliamperes can cause a person to lose control of their muscles.
- Shocks over 30 milliamperes may prevent someone from letting go of whatever they touch.
- From 50 milliamperes and up, death is possible.
Even when a shock is not in the range that can lead to death, it can cause other injuries. An electrical burn is common on the exposed skin of someone who gets a shock.
The loss of muscle control and spasms that sometimes accompany a shock can also cause a worker to be injured by striking something, causing equipment to fall, or by falling from a walkway or stairway.
Examples of Maritime Electrical Accidents
Electrical system incidents have caused many accidents, injuries, and even fatalities in the maritime industry.
Fatal Fall After Electrical Shock
For example, a Saudi Arabian ship worker died after a fall from a walkway in 2008. An electrical shock triggered the fall. The worker had been exposed to a live electric cable, received a shock, and fell off the walkway, which did not have adequate fencing. He died from the resulting injuries.
Electrical Fire
In 2013, a cruise ship off the coast of the United Kingdom experienced an electrical fire and a total power outage due to the fire.
Luckily for everyone aboard the ship, it was anchored in calm waters with good weather. Had the weather or waters been rough, the vessel would have been stranded and at the mercy of those conditions. No one was injured in the incident.
Electrical Outage
In 2008, off the coast of Northern Ireland, a cargo ship ran aground after experiencing an electrical blackout. No one was injured, but the ship was severely damaged.
Subsequent investigations found that lax electrical maintenance routines aboard the ship contributed to the outage that caused the accident.
The investigators also determined that inadequate communication between the bridge and the engine room led to the starting of the main engines without approval.
What Are Workers’ Rights After Maritime Electrical Accidents?
Electrical equipment is essential to running all kinds of ships but also presents problems. Many of the incidents that cause electrical fires, shocks, and outages, which lead to accidents, injuries, and even deaths, could be prevented with proper personnel training and regular system maintenance.
If you work aboard a ship and have been injured in an electrical system incident, you have rights under maritime law to ensure adequate compensation.
Any worker aboard a ship is entitled to compensation for medical bills and lost wages under fundamental maritime law, no matter who was to blame for the incident.
However, if you can prove your employer was negligent in the accident and qualify under the definition of a seaman, you may be entitled to even more compensation under the Jones Act.
You may be owed money for lost future earnings or pain and suffering. You should also know that if you have dependents and you die at work because of an electrical accident, your loved ones are also owed compensation.
If you find yourself injured from your job duties and are being denied compensation, an experienced maritime lawyer can help you get the money you deserve.