How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 76 severe cases involving cargo ships over the last decade. Fractures account for 46% of these incidents, often resulting from heavy machinery or cargo failure. These injuries frequently require extensive surgery and long-term rehabilitation.
The physical nature of shipboard work makes these injuries particularly severe. Finger injuries are the most common, occurring in 18% of reported cases. You face significant risks of permanent loss of function due to crushing or amputation hazards inherent in maritime environments.
How these injuries happen
Most injuries occur during routine vessel operations, where the movement of the ship and heavy cargo creates constant risk. You are frequently struck by shifting steel slabs or caught in lashing equipment like turnbuckles. These incidents often stem from failures in load securement or inadequate communication between deck crews and equipment operators.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Incidents onboard water vehicle in normal operation | 46 |
| 2 | Other water vehicle incident n.e.c. | 24 |
| 3 | Other fall to lower level | 2 |
| 4 | Pedestrian struck by vehicle in nonroadway area | 1 |
| 5 | Struck by running powered equipment— during maintenance, cleaning, testing | 1 |
| 6 | Water vehicle incidents— unspecified | 1 |
| 7 | Caught, entangled in running powered equipment— normal operation | 1 |
Where injuries happen most
Transportation and warehousing accounts for 78% of all reported cargo ship injuries. This industry relies on high-speed loading and unloading cycles that prioritize throughput over safety. When your employer fails to enforce strict lashing protocols or provide adequate space for you to maneuver around heavy cargo, the risk of crush injuries increases significantly.
Real cases like yours
Recurring patterns in these reports show that you are often injured while performing manual tasks like tightening turnbuckles or inspecting cargo holds. Many incidents involve the unexpected movement of heavy objects or the failure of lifting devices during discharge operations. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you evaluate your legal options and ensure you receive the benefits you are owed.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | TX | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee was working inside the cargo hold of a cargo ship, discharging steel slabs. The slabs (approximately 4 feet by 20 feet) were being hoisted by a powered industrial truck (PIT) equipped with an electromagnetic lifting device. The lifting device failed and released a steel slab that struck the employee's right foot. The employee sustained injuries to their big toe, including partial amputation." | |
| 2025 | CA | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee was tightening a turnbuckle while attempting to conduct lash-back operations on a ship when their left gloved hand was caught between the upper and lower turnbuckles. The employee suffered a crush injury to the little finger that resulted in a fingertip amputation." | |
| 2025 | WA | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee parked a side-by-side on the fixed internal ramp aboard a cargo ship. They exited the side-by-side and went to inspect the cargo below. The side-by-side rolled toward the employee and struck them as they were walking toward the edge of the ramp. The employee was knocked off the ramp and landed on the lower deck approximately 8 feet below. The employee was hospitalized with a fractured shoulder." | |
| 2025 | FL | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee was conducting welding repairs inside a ballast water tank on a docked ship. The employee began to experience signs of heat exhaustion, resulting in hospitalization." | |
| 2025 | CA | Manufacturing | "An employee was working on the bottom of a littoral combat ship with a water jet propulsion system instead of a rudder. The employee was hammering a pin out of one of the cylinders of the propulsion system when the pin came out and the cylinder retracted. The employee's left middle finger was pinched by the cylinder, resulting in the partial amputation." | |
| 2025 | TX | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee had been flagging a crane operator via radio. Cargo shifted during a hoisting evolution and the employee became caught between a shipping container and a bulkhead in the cargo hold of a marine cargo vessel. The employee's right elbow was fractured." | |
| 2025 | WA | Public Administration | "At 6:05 a.m. on May 13, 2025, an employee was descending a stairwell in a ship. The tool bag she was carrying on her shoulder caught on a handrail; she lost her footing and fell down the last 7 feet of the stairwell. She suffered internal injuries and was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | AL | Transportation & Warehousing | "On May 13, 2025, an employee was performing longshoring operations aboard a vessel. He was handing another employee a 20-foot lashing pole when he fell about 45 feet from the vessel to the concrete dock below. He suffered a fractured arm and leg, as well as a severe head injury and pelvic injuries. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | CA | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee was removing lashing bars from containers aboard the vessel. Heavy condensation on the deck caused the employee to slip and fall, resulting in a left hip fracture and a hyperextended left leg." | |
| 2025 | GA | Public Administration | "On April 20, 2025, an employee was returning from break and opened a door on a ship. The moveable platform was no longer there and the employee fell 12-15 feet to the deck below and landed on their head. The employee sustained a fractured skull, a fractured rib, and a sprained wrist." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Seek immediate medical attention and ensure your employer files an official report. Amputations are severe injuries that often trigger mandatory OSHA reporting, which creates a paper trail for your claim. An attorney can help you secure the necessary medical documentation to support your Workers' Compensation case.
Employers are required to provide a safe environment, which includes proper cargo securement and adequate training for all personnel. If a failure to secure steel or other heavy materials led to your injury, your employer may be liable for the resulting damages. An attorney can help you investigate whether safety protocols were ignored or bypassed.
Workers' Compensation generally covers you if you are injured while performing your job duties, even on a vessel. Depending on the specific location and your employment status, you might be eligible for state Workers' Compensation or federal maritime benefits. An attorney can help you clarify which system applies to your specific situation.
Evidence such as equipment maintenance logs, training records, and witness statements are critical to proving your case. OSHA investigations often reveal whether standard safety procedures were followed or if equipment was defective. An attorney can help you gather this evidence to build a strong claim for your benefits.