A crew member on a towing vessel off the coast of Louisiana was evacuated after inhaling toxic chemicals, suffering poisoning symptoms. According to reports, the Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report last Wednesday from the captain of the vessel Lanta Rose, that one of the crewmembers had inhaled an unknown chemical. The crew member was reportedly suffering headaches and vomiting as a result of the exposure.
The Coast Guard launched an evacuation effort on January 27, 2011, and the man was successfully transferred from the vessel, brought in for emergency medical treatment, and then transported to Lady of the Sea Hospital in Cut Off. He was rescued from the boat about four miles south of Grand Isle, Louisiana.
Toxic exposure comes up often in offshore work. Maritime workers are constantly in close proximity to hazardous chemicals. Workers on barges, cargo ships, and other vessels may be exposed to chemicals they’re transporting. For instance, cargo ship workers have some of the highest risks of benzene exposure in the workplace, and the hazardous but widely used chemical has been scientifically linked to blood cancers, including AML.
A seaman who is exposed to dangerous chemicals as a result of his work environment may have grounds for a maritime injury claim. In most cases, crewmembers on a vessel who are injured on the job can recover under the Jones Act as seaman. Contact SMSH today at benzene@smslegal.com for more information about your offshore toxic exposure claims.