Louisiana deckhand killed in accident on barge
In New Orleans, Louisiana, the Times-Picayune reported that an accident claimed the life of a deckhand aboard a barge that was headed for the Intracoastal Waterway. 26-year-old Christopher Oncale of Prarieville, Louisiana was killed when he was struck in the head by a fitting the barge had been tied to. The crew tied the barge to a fitting of the Algiers Lock to keep the barge from moving in the canal. The fitting broke and flew threw the air striking the deckhand in the head.
The accident underscores the hazardous nature of maritime work where even routine operations can hold substantial risk for crew. The negligent acts of other crew members or the failure of employers to provide safe working conditions can lead to accidents with catastrophic consequences. The Jones Act and other maritime laws protect workers from these risks and provide remedies for workers who are injured as a result of them. If you or anyone you know has been seriously injured in a maritime accident, or if you have questions about the Jones Act and other maritime laws, contact the Houston Jones Act & maritime lawyers at Arnold & Itkin LLP.
