Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
One of the most dangerous aspects of offshore work isn’t visible to the people at risk from exposure to it. Benzene is a colorless gas that’s a yellow liquid at room temperature. One of the simplest ways to determine the presence of benzene is through its smell. Benzene is characterized by a sweet odor. Generally, benzene levels are hazardous if enough of the gas is present to produce a detectable ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
Arnold & Itkin is currently fighting for the compensation of a maritime worker who spent years working on barges and transferring products. Our client wasn't aware that he was receiving dangerous amounts of exposure to benzene while working. Now, he has leukemia caused by toxic exposure to benzene. Studies have found that leukemia is common among workers exposed to high levels of benzene and the ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
The Jones Act , also known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, was created to hold negligent employers accountable and protect the lives of offshore workers. Under the Jones Act, seamen receive protections for their health and livelihood. The law allows them to file a lawsuit when a crew member’s or shipowner’s negligence causes injury or death. The Jones Act applies if: A person was injured while ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
Arnold & Itkin Attorneys Kurt Arnold , Kyle Findley , Kala Sellers , and Adam Lewis filed suit on November 8, 2019 in Harris County, Texas for a Jones Act seaman who was severely injured when he was operating a vessel on inland waters in Tennessee. He was injured when the river overcame the vessel, causing it to crash into a bank. As a result, our client suffered severe injuries to his back, neck ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
Since its creation in 1971, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has enforced safety regulations in the American workplace. When it comes to offshore renewable energy facilities on the Outer Continental Shelf, OSHA will be taking the backseat, and the Department of the Interior will oversee worker safety. In October, the DOI revealed that it leased about 1.7 million acres of the Outer ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
Arnold & Itkin is currently representing a young man who sustained serious injuries while working on an offshore rig. Our client’s injuries occurred because of an oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. He is suffering because of burns and injuries to his knee and other parts of his body. We filed this case against the large offshore drilling company that owned the rig our client was working on ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
While maritime jobs such as offshore drilling have a reputation for being dangerous, many overlook the dangers associated with shipyard work. Shipyard workers weld, plumb, machine, use rigging, and work with a variety of chemicals. These facts make shipyard work one of the most dangerous professions in the maritime industry. Understanding the common shipyard dangers can help companies protect ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
Arnold & Itkin filed a case on behalf of a man from Kaplan, Louisiana. Our client was working as a chef for an offshore company when he slipped and fell due to dangerous conditions on the ship. The man suffered serious injuries to his neck, back, shoulder, foot, and other parts of his body. These injuries have required our client to go through extensive medical treatments. Offshore employers have ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
When we think of cruises, the fun associated with them is usually the first thing that comes to mind. Relaxation, great food, swimming, and onshore excursions are just a few of the things that most think of when it comes to cruises. Though they might be a haven for fun, cruise ships are immune to accidents. Various accidents can spoil the fun of a cruise. However, many accidents on a cruise ship ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
Offshore workers suffer from severe accidents at a disproportionate amount when compared to the rest of the American workforce. Those who work offshore face the risk of suffering from a fatal accident which is seven times higher than other industries in the United States. These accidents occur for several reasons. Two-thirds of all offshore worker deaths are in the oil and gas industry. First, ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
Arnold & Itkin filed a case on behalf of a man who was seriously injured while working offshore in the Philippines. As a result of the accident, our client suffered a torn meniscus that has inhibited his ability to work and will require extensive medical treatments. Our client is from Virginia Beach, Virginia. Offshore employers have the responsibility to ensure that their vessel is safe and our ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
Cruise ships have a reputation of being one of the safest ways to travel. These large luxury boats can carry thousands of people to global destinations. However, it’s difficult to know exactly how many accidents occur on cruise ships. The Department of Transportation only reports criminal activity on boats. Additionally, independent research has questioned the thoroughness of accident statistics ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
A cargo ship tipped over off the coast of Georgia early Sunday morning, nearly capsizing. Crew members called for help at approximately 2 a.m. and responders arrived to find the large motor vehicle transporter Golden Rayon its side. The ship tipped over after listing heavily. It was departing from the Port of Brunswick after being loaded and unloaded by longshoremen. The vessel had 23 crew members ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
Cruise ships are beloved by passengers for the escape they offer from everyday life. These large floating luxury hotels take a lot of effort to operate. The largest cruise ship in operation, Symphony of the Seas, carries 2,200 crewmembers and 6,680 passengers. These ships are large, complicated, and have the ability to carry many people at once. So, safety must always receive prioritization within ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
Offshore work contains a plethora of dangers. Fires, explosions, falling overboard, collisions, and other serious accidents are associated with offshore work. However, there is one classification of injury that does not always receive enough attention: musculoskeletal disorders. Musculoskeletal injuries are serious, and offshore workers should know about the unique risks of their job. What Are ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
Arnold & Itkin is currently representing a man who lives in Alpha, Florida. He sustained injuries while working on a tugboat in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. Our client slipped and fell while on the vessel, causing severe injuries to his knee. The accident occurred because his employer failed to maintain safe working conditions on the boat. Our client’s employers had a responsibility to ensure that ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
Arnold & Itkin Attorneys Kurt Arnold , Caj Boatright , Roland Christensen , and Alison Baimbridge are currently representing a seaman from Washington who was severely injured while working on a vessel near Galveston, TX. The man was serving as a trip pilot when he fell backward while climbing a set of stairs. He fell more than 15 feet to the floor of the vessel's second deck, causing injuries to ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
Arnold & Itkin LLP Attorneys Kyle Findley , Kala Sellers , and Adam Lewis recently filed a case on behalf of a Jones Act seaman who suffered serious injuries while working as a commercial fisherman. The man was working as a fisherman in the Gulf of Mexico when he was struck in the head by a heavy piece of metal. He sustained injuries to his neck, back, head, and brain because of this accident. Our ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
Arnold & Itkin Attorneys Kurt Arnold , Caj Boatright , Roland Christensen , Joseph McGowin, and Alison Baimbridge filed a case on behalf of a Mississippi man who was severely injured while working on a vessel. An exploding tank caused our client's injuries. Maintenance and safety are two of the most essential aspects of offshore work. Vessel owners have a responsibility to ensure that their vessel ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
Earlier this year, the current administration established plans to roll back safeguards created for the offshore industry after the Deepwater Horizon accident. The Deepwater Horizon accident is the most significant oil disaster in the history of United States offshore drilling operations. It claimed the lives of 11 workers, injured 17 more, and spilled an estimated 4.9 million barrels into the ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
Arnold & Itkin filed a suit on behalf of four men who were injured in Sunshine, Louisiana when a towboat crashed into a dock where the men were working. As a result, the men sustained serious injuries to their neck, back, and other parts of their bodies. Their injuries will require extensive medical bills and will have lasting repercussions. The towboat company has the responsibility to ensure ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
A young girl has died after she fell off a cruise ship in Puerto Rico. The 1 ½-year-old fell from the 11th floor of the Royal Caribbean cruise liner Freedom of the Seas at the Panamerican dock in San Juan. She was a child of an officer from the South Bend, Indiana Police Department, the department confirmed. The family was traveling with two other siblings and two sets of grandparents. "The ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
On Sunday, two workers were killed after a training exercise accident on Royal Dutch Shell’s Auger Tension Leg Platform. An additional worker received treatment at a nearby hospital and was released. The incident occurred in the Gulf of Mexico’s deepwater, about 214 miles south of New Orleans. Officials from the United States Coast Guard and the Interior Department are currently investigating the ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
Many offshore workers and their employers are aware of the risks of hypothermia while working in below-freezing temperatures. However, many in the maritime industry do not realize that this dangerous condition can be induced in above-freezing temperatures too. Learning the signs of hypothermia will improve working conditions and potentially save a life. What Is Hypothermia? Hypothermia occurs when ...
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Posted By Arnold & Itkin LLP
Arnold & Itkin recently filed suit on behalf of a man who was seriously injured by the carelessness of the owner and operator of a large boat. Our client was standing on a wooden dock at the Houston Ship Channel when the defendant’s vessel crashed into it. Large vessels should never make contact with docks, and it’s the responsibility of their owners to prevent dangerous collisions such as this ...
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