LongshoreAct Extensions

I’m not a Maritime Worker. Does My Job Qualify for Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Comp?

These are the classifications of workers who can get workers’ compensation benefits under the Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act even if you don’t work directly around port and shipping operations:

• Employees on Military Bases
  Under the Defense Base Act, you could be a private employee on a government defense-related contract anywhere in the world and get longshore & harbor workers’ comp. You could be on base or on other land used for U.S. military purposes.
• Workers in Armed Forces Support Roles
  You could qualify for federal workers’ comp as a civilian employee providing services to military service members under the Non-Appropriated Fund Instrumentalities Act.
• Offshore Workers
  If you work in offshore natural resources exploration, such as on an oil rig, you can get longshore & harbor workers’ comp under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.
• Workers on Vessels
  The Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act doesn’t cover crew members of vessels, but, if your job is based on a ship, you have protection under a different law, called the Jones Act.

Unlike other forms of workers’ comp, the Jones Act allows you to sue your employer for negligence resulting in your injury. It’s essentially a personal injury claim.

Figuring out whether your job qualifies for workers’ compensation or other benefits under federal laws can be complicated for maritime employees.

In many jobs, you must seek state workers’ comp. And various federal government employees have separate workers’ comp programs.

To see where you stand, talk to the legal team at Workers’ Compensation, LLC.

We can provide an initial consultation on your case for free.