FACTS

Accidents caused by slips and falls in shipyards can lead to various types of injuries and incidents.

• Slip and fall accidents can result in sprained or strained muscles, ligaments, or tendons.
• Falling from heights or landing on hard surfaces can lead to fractures or broken bones.
• Falling and hitting the head on a hard surface can cause traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) or concussions.
• Slipping or falling can cause injuries to the back and spine, such as herniated discs, vertebral fractures, or spinal cord injuries. These injuries can lead to chronic pain, limited mobility, or paralysis, depending on the severity of the damage.
• During a slip or fall, individuals may strike objects or surfaces, resulting in bruises, contusions, or abrasions.
• Slip and fall accidents near water bodies or in areas with open water tanks or docks can result in drowning incidents. These accidents can be particularly dangerous if the individual is unable to swim or quickly receive assistance.
• In extreme cases, slips and falls can lead to fatal injuries, especially if the individual falls from significant heights, lands on hazardous objects, or suffers severe head trauma.

 STATS

• According to the National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2021, work-related fatalities due to falls, slips, and trips increased by 5.6%. Slip, trip, and fall hazards are also cited as the most common cause of maritime injuries.
• The Maritime Industries study reports, there were at least 45 fatal accidents (4.0 per 100,000) among shipyard workers, which is higher than the rate for all U.S. workers.
• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that, in the U.S., slip and fall accidents are responsible for 43 % of maritime injuries.
• In 2018, the American Club, in partnership with American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Lamar University (Lamar), launched a new project aimed at reducing accidents caused by unsafe conditions aboard vessels.
  • The American Club has incurred over 8,400 claims in 2018. Of these claims, 4,241 (~50%) of them are injuries. The total costs of injury-related claims during this time period is US$ 246.2 million. In  2018, 46% of injuries were the result of slips, trips, falls and lifting incidents. Excluding claims with no American Club costs, falls cost on average US$ 182,000, slips cost US$ 137,000 and lifting incidents cost US$ 112,000. With the inclusion of all the American Club records into these financial calculations, falls and trips cost on average U.S. $88,000, slips cost US$56,000 and lifting incidents cost US$48,000.
  • Falls represented 22% of the incidents in the American Club data set. Slips accounted for 12% of the American Club injury claims.