The Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act and The Defense Base Act, Protection For Those Working On The Water

Workers compensation is insurance paid to individuals injured during the course of employment. The individual then relinquishes the right to sue the employer. Workers compensation replaces wages and medical benefits.

The Longshore harbor workers compensation act, enacted in 1927, covers maritime claims of injury on the job. The Longshore Compensation Act covers maritime workers who are not covered under Jones Act Workers Compensation.

Nearly 500,000 workers who contract occupational diseases or who are injured on the navigable seas of the United States are protected by the Longshore Workers Compensation Act. Every year the Longshore Workers Compensation Act handles 27,000 cases of individuals that become disabled or die from occupational diseases or injuries. Over 747 million dollars is provided to individuals protected by the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act in the form of vocational rehabilitation benefits, monetary benefits, and medical benefits. To continue the provision of benefits for individuals injured in cases of employer insolvency, the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act maintains over 2.8 billion dollars in reserve securities.

The Defense Base Act is an extension of the Longshore Act and is another workers compensation protection program that protects civilians who are working on United States military bases outside of the United States under a contract for national defense or public works. The Defense Base Act, or DBA, provides compensation and medical treatment. Defense base act attorneys are paid an hourly rate. DBA attorney fees are paid by the insurer.

To learn more about the Longshore Workers Compensation Act or Defense Base Act, you can use the terms “Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act”, or “Defense Bast Act”, to conduct an online search.