Making a living in New Jersey shouldn’t have to cost you your health. Yet, many container ship workers face daily dangerous conditions that put them at risk for serious injury, illnesses or even death. Fortunately, almost all container ship fatalities are preventable with the proper safety measures.
Use the correct loading equipment
If there is any cargo that you need to load onto a container ship, you must use the correct loading and unloading equipment. This can include cranes, forklifts, stackers and other tools depending on the situation. If your workplace has a single-shot container loader, ensure to take full advantage of it to minimize maritime worker injuries, such as:
• Getting trapped inside a container
• Exposure to fumes
• Getting struck or crushed by an object falling
• Being struck by heavy machinery while loading or unloading
Wear the appropriate protective gear
Be sure to equip yourself with the right protective gear, such as safety glasses, hard hats, steel-toed boots and gloves when handling cargo operations. This can help protect you against flying debris, hazardous chemicals, slips and falls. Wearing the right protective gear also makes it easier for workers to move around and do their jobs safely, reducing the risk of injuries.
Know your cargo
Before starting any cargo loading and unloading operations, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the nature of your cargo. This includes understanding its weight, size and shape, as well as knowing its associated hazards.
You should also consider the environmental conditions in which you’ll be operating, like how much space is available and whether any wet surfaces could cause slips and falls. If possible, create contingency plans for any potential risks or dangers.
Create a safety culture
Things like establishing clear guidelines for workers on how to handle hazardous materials, conducting regular safety meetings and providing workers with the appropriate training will all help create a culture of safety on board. If everyone is contributing toward safety, it not only protects you and your fellow workers but the entire operation as a whole.
Keeping safety first and foremost in your mindset at your workplace can save you and others from fatal injuries. However, despite the best precautions, injuries can still occur. In such cases, it’s important to know that there are mechanisms for injured workers to seek compensation for medical costs, lost wages and other damages without necessarily resorting to legal action.
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