Cruise Ship Crew Member Injuries
Very often, crew members are from foreign countries and have little to no understanding of their shipboard duties but are put to work with little to no training. Instead, they are expected to “learn on the job.” Cruise ships are routinely understaffed, meaning crew members lack help from needed co-workers. These circumstances often make it difficult for crew members to safely carry out their assignments, resulting in accidents, causing injuries, and sometimes death.
Crew member injuries and deaths which occur on cruise ships are many times caused by:
- Lifting heavy objects without prior safety equipment
- Slippery decks and galleys
- Unclean working environments
- Poorly maintained or broken equipment
- Understaffing
- Insufficiently trained co-workers
- Improper lighting
- Failure to provide prompt, proper, or adequate medical treatment
- Inadequate railings
- Dock strikes
- Working excessive hours
