If You’ve Been Hurt, This Is Why — And It Wasn’t Your Fault
If you’ve been seriously injured in a fall from a scaffold, crushed by machinery, struck by falling cargo, or shocked by faulty electrical equipment, you need to understand something critical: Your accident was almost certainly preventable.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) calls these the “Fatal Four” — the four hazards responsible for nearly 60% of construction worker deaths nationwide:
In maritime work — shipyards, docks, offshore platforms and vessels — these same four hazards cause the majority of catastrophic injuries and deaths. When you’re hurt in one of these accidents, it’s almost always because your employer violated basic federal safety laws.
This guide explains how these violations prove your employer was negligent, what evidence protects your claim, and what you need to do right now to protect your rights.
At Lambert Zainey, we’ve spent decades fighting for injured maritime workers. We know how to use OSHA violations to prove your case under the Jones Act, LHWCA, or General Maritime Law — and we know how to force large corporations to pay for the harm they’ve caused.
Why Your Fatal Four Accident Proves Negligence
OSHA regulations aren’t suggestions — they’re the minimum legal standard for workplace safety. When your employer violates these standards and you get hurt, that violation is powerful proof they failed to protect you.
OSHA Fatal Four: By the Numbers
|
Hazard |
% of Deaths |
Most Common in Maritime |
Key OSHA Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Falls |
36-38% |
Scaffolding, ladders, deck openings, overboard |
29 CFR 1915.159 |
|
Struck-by |
10-12% |
Falling cargo, crane loads, mooring lines |
29 CFR 1917.112 |
|
Caught-in/Between |
5-7% |
Vessel-to-dock crushing, unguarded machinery |
29 CFR 1915.89 |
|
Electrocution |
8-10% |
Shore power, damaged tools, wet environments |
29 CFR 1915.131-137 |
|
Combined |
~60% |
Majority of serious maritime injuries |
Parts 1915-1918 |
Source: OSHA National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries
How This Works in Your Case:
If You’re a Jones Act Seaman:
Your employer’s violation of industry safety standards — whether OSHA, Coast Guard, or accepted maritime practices — is strong evidence they were negligent. We use these violations to prove your employer failed to provide a reasonably safe workplace.
If You’re an LHWCA-Covered Worker (Longshore/Dockworker):
OSHA’s maritime standards (29 CFR Parts 1915-1918) directly govern your workplace. A violation that caused your injury is clear proof the employer breached their duty of care, supporting third-party claims against vessel owners and contractors.
If You’re Claiming Unseaworthiness:
When a dangerous condition exists because of an OSHA violation — like an unguarded machine or missing fall protection — it proves the vessel wasn’t reasonably fit for its purpose. This supports a strict liability unseaworthiness claim.
The Bottom Line: If you were hurt in a Fatal Four accident, the negligence isn’t hidden. The violation of federal safety law proves it.
The Fatal Four: What Happened to You and Why It Was Illegal
1. Falls (The #1 Killer in Maritime Work)
What Happened:
You fell from scaffolding, a ladder, through a deck opening, from a platform, or overboard — and you weren’t protected by guardrails, safety nets, or a working fall arrest system.
Why It Was Illegal:
Under OSHA’s shipyard standards (29 CFR 1915.159), your employer was required to provide fall protection at heights of 5 feet or more — or at ANY height if you were working over hazardous substances or dangerous objects. They failed.
Common Violations We See:
When Fall Protection Is Required in Maritime Work
|
Work Type |
Height Trigger |
Required Protection |
|---|---|---|
|
Shipyard scaffolds |
5 feet or more |
Guardrails or personal fall arrest |
|
Over hazardous substances |
ANY height |
Guardrails, nets or harness system |
|
Marine terminal surfaces |
4 feet or more |
Guardrails or hole covers |
|
Vessel deck work |
5 feet or more |
Guardrails meeting OSHA height specs |
What This Proves: Your fall wasn’t an accident. It was the predictable result of your employer’s decision not to follow basic safety laws.
2. Struck-by Object (Cargo, Tools, Equipment)
What Happened:
You were hit by falling cargo, struck when rigging failed, injured by a snapping mooring line, or hit by moving equipment or vehicles on the dock.
Why It Was Illegal:
OSHA’s marine terminal (29 CFR 1917) and longshoring standards (29 CFR 1918) require employers to inspect rigging equipment, establish exclusion zones under suspended loads, secure tools at heights, and use trained signal persons for crane operations. They didn’t.
Common Violations We See:
What This Proves: Your employer knew objects could fall or strike workers — federal law requires specific protections. They chose not to provide them.
3. Caught-in/Between (Crushing and Amputation)
What Happened:
You were crushed between a vessel and the dock, your hand or limb was caught in an unguarded winch or machinery, or you were pulled into equipment during maintenance.
Why It Was Illegal:
OSHA’s lockout/tagout standards (29 CFR 1915.89) and machine guarding requirements (29 CFR 1915.82) require employers to shut down and lock out machinery during maintenance, install guards on all moving parts, and provide adequate clearance during vessel operations. They didn’t comply.
Common Violations We See:
What This Proves: Crushing and amputation injuries are 100% preventable. Your employer’s failure to follow basic machine safety laws caused your life-changing injury.
4. Electrocution (Shocks and Burns)
What Happened:
You contacted damaged electrical cables, were shocked by faulty shore power connections, touched energized equipment in a wet environment, or were injured by improperly grounded machinery.
Why It Was Illegal:
OSHA’s electrical safety standards for maritime work (29 CFR 1915.131-137) require ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) in wet locations, proper grounding of all equipment, regular inspection of electrical cords and tools, and use of qualified electricians for repairs. Your employer violated these requirements.
Common Violations We See:
What This Proves: Electricity and water are a deadly combination. Your employer knew this — federal law requires specific precautions in maritime environments. They failed to provide them.
What You Must Do Right Now to Protect Your Claim
If you’ve been hurt in a Fatal Four accident, employers move fast to cover up evidence. Here’s what you need to do immediately:
Within 24 Hours:
1. Get Medical Treatment
Even if you think you’re “okay,” get checked. Falls can cause internal injuries, electrical contact can damage your heart, and crushing injuries may have delayed complications. Your medical records are critical evidence.
2. Report Your Injury in Writing
Tell your supervisor or employer about the accident in writing — email, text, or written form. Under LHWCA, you have 30 days to give written notice, but do it immediately. Get a copy of any accident report they create.
3. Document Everything You Can
If physically able, take photos of:
Get contact information from anyone who saw what happened — before the company separates you from your coworkers.
4. Preserve Any Physical Evidence
Keep damaged equipment: torn safety harness, broken tools, damaged electrical equipment, torn clothing showing machinery contact. Don’t let your employer take this evidence “for investigation” without photographing it first.
Within 72 Hours:
5. Contact a Maritime Lawyer Immediately
Fatal Four cases require fast action because:
An experienced maritime attorney will immediately demand that your employer preserve all evidence before it “disappears.”
The Evidence Your Lawyer Will Demand
When you hire Lambert Zainey, we immediately force your employer to turn over the documents that prove their negligence:
OSHA Inspection Reports: Showing your employer was cited for the same violations before your accident — proving they knew about the danger.
Internal Accident Investigation Files: Often these reports admit safety rules were violated.
Safety Meeting Minutes: Documenting that supervisors and managers knew about the specific hazard (like “broken guardrail on deck 3”) but failed to fix it.
Maintenance and Inspection Records: Proving equipment wasn’t maintained or inspected as required by OSHA.
Training Records: Showing you and your coworkers never received required safety training.
Surveillance Video: Before they “lose” or erase footage showing what really happened.This evidence doesn’t stay available forever. Companies have been known to “accidentally” destroy records, repair hazards immediately after accidents, and claim violations never existed. That’s why you need a lawyer who acts fast.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Fatal Four Maritime Accidents
You Deserve Compensation — And We Know How to Get It
If you’ve been catastrophically injured in a Fatal Four accident, you’re facing medical bills, lost income, and a future that’s been changed forever. Your employer’s violation of basic safety laws caused this — and they need to be held accountable.
At Lambert Zainey, we’ve spent decades fighting for injured maritime workers across Louisiana and the Gulf Coast. We know how to:
You didn’t cause this accident. Your employer’s decision to ignore federal safety law did.
Don’t let them minimize what happened to you or pressure you into accepting less than you deserve.
Call Lambert Zainey today for a free, confidential case review: 800-521-1750
The clock is ticking on your claim. Let us fight for you.
If You’ve Been Hurt, This Is Why — And It Wasn’t Your Fault
If you’ve been seriously injured in a fall from a scaffold, crushed by machinery, struck by falling cargo, or shocked by faulty electrical equipment, you need to understand something critical: Your accident was almost certainly preventable.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) calls these the “Fatal Four” — the four hazards responsible for nearly 60% of construction worker deaths nationwide:
In maritime work — shipyards, docks, offshore platforms and vessels — these same four hazards cause the majority of catastrophic injuries and deaths. When you’re hurt in one of these accidents, it’s almost always because your employer violated basic federal safety laws.
This guide explains how these violations prove your employer was negligent, what evidence protects your claim, and what you need to do right now to protect your rights.
At Lambert Zainey, we’ve spent decades fighting for injured maritime workers. We know how to use OSHA violations to prove your case under the Jones Act, LHWCA, or General Maritime Law — and we know how to force large corporations to pay for the harm they’ve caused.
Why Your Fatal Four Accident Proves Negligence
OSHA regulations aren’t suggestions — they’re the minimum legal standard for workplace safety. When your employer violates these standards and you get hurt, that violation is powerful proof they failed to protect you.
OSHA Fatal Four: By the Numbers
|
Hazard |
% of Deaths |
Most Common in Maritime |
Key OSHA Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Falls |
36-38% |
Scaffolding, ladders, deck openings, overboard |
29 CFR 1915.159 |
|
Struck-by |
10-12% |
Falling cargo, crane loads, mooring lines |
29 CFR 1917.112 |
|
Caught-in/Between |
5-7% |
Vessel-to-dock crushing, unguarded machinery |
29 CFR 1915.89 |
|
Electrocution |
8-10% |
Shore power, damaged tools, wet environments |
29 CFR 1915.131-137 |
|
Combined |
~60% |
Majority of serious maritime injuries |
Parts 1915-1918 |
Source: OSHA National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries
How This Works in Your Case:
If You’re a Jones Act Seaman:
Your employer’s violation of industry safety standards — whether OSHA, Coast Guard, or accepted maritime practices — is strong evidence they were negligent. We use these violations to prove your employer failed to provide a reasonably safe workplace.
If You’re an LHWCA-Covered Worker (Longshore/Dockworker):
OSHA’s maritime standards (29 CFR Parts 1915-1918) directly govern your workplace. A violation that caused your injury is clear proof the employer breached their duty of care, supporting third-party claims against vessel owners and contractors.
If You’re Claiming Unseaworthiness:
When a dangerous condition exists because of an OSHA violation — like an unguarded machine or missing fall protection — it proves the vessel wasn’t reasonably fit for its purpose. This supports a strict liability unseaworthiness claim.
The Bottom Line: If you were hurt in a Fatal Four accident, the negligence isn’t hidden. The violation of federal safety law proves it.
The Fatal Four: What Happened to You and Why It Was Illegal
1. Falls (The #1 Killer in Maritime Work)
What Happened:
You fell from scaffolding, a ladder, through a deck opening, from a platform, or overboard — and you weren’t protected by guardrails, safety nets, or a working fall arrest system.
Why It Was Illegal:
Under OSHA’s shipyard standards (29 CFR 1915.159), your employer was required to provide fall protection at heights of 5 feet or more — or at ANY height if you were working over hazardous substances or dangerous objects. They failed.
Common Violations We See:
When Fall Protection Is Required in Maritime Work
|
Work Type |
Height Trigger |
Required Protection |
|---|---|---|
|
Shipyard scaffolds |
5 feet or more |
Guardrails or personal fall arrest |
|
Over hazardous substances |
ANY height |
Guardrails, nets or harness system |
|
Marine terminal surfaces |
4 feet or more |
Guardrails or hole covers |
|
Vessel deck work |
5 feet or more |
Guardrails meeting OSHA height specs |
What This Proves: Your fall wasn’t an accident. It was the predictable result of your employer’s decision not to follow basic safety laws.
2. Struck-by Object (Cargo, Tools, Equipment)
What Happened:
You were hit by falling cargo, struck when rigging failed, injured by a snapping mooring line, or hit by moving equipment or vehicles on the dock.
Why It Was Illegal:
OSHA’s marine terminal (29 CFR 1917) and longshoring standards (29 CFR 1918) require employers to inspect rigging equipment, establish exclusion zones under suspended loads, secure tools at heights, and use trained signal persons for crane operations. They didn’t.
Common Violations We See:
What This Proves: Your employer knew objects could fall or strike workers — federal law requires specific protections. They chose not to provide them.
3. Caught-in/Between (Crushing and Amputation)
What Happened:
You were crushed between a vessel and the dock, your hand or limb was caught in an unguarded winch or machinery, or you were pulled into equipment during maintenance.
Why It Was Illegal:
OSHA’s lockout/tagout standards (29 CFR 1915.89) and machine guarding requirements (29 CFR 1915.82) require employers to shut down and lock out machinery during maintenance, install guards on all moving parts, and provide adequate clearance during vessel operations. They didn’t comply.
Common Violations We See:
What This Proves: Crushing and amputation injuries are 100% preventable. Your employer’s failure to follow basic machine safety laws caused your life-changing injury.
4. Electrocution (Shocks and Burns)
What Happened:
You contacted damaged electrical cables, were shocked by faulty shore power connections, touched energized equipment in a wet environment, or were injured by improperly grounded machinery.
Why It Was Illegal:
OSHA’s electrical safety standards for maritime work (29 CFR 1915.131-137) require ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) in wet locations, proper grounding of all equipment, regular inspection of electrical cords and tools, and use of qualified electricians for repairs. Your employer violated these requirements.
Common Violations We See:
What This Proves: Electricity and water are a deadly combination. Your employer knew this — federal law requires specific precautions in maritime environments. They failed to provide them.
What You Must Do Right Now to Protect Your Claim
If you’ve been hurt in a Fatal Four accident, employers move fast to cover up evidence. Here’s what you need to do immediately:
Within 24 Hours:
1. Get Medical Treatment
Even if you think you’re “okay,” get checked. Falls can cause internal injuries, electrical contact can damage your heart, and crushing injuries may have delayed complications. Your medical records are critical evidence.
2. Report Your Injury in Writing
Tell your supervisor or employer about the accident in writing — email, text, or written form. Under LHWCA, you have 30 days to give written notice, but do it immediately. Get a copy of any accident report they create.
3. Document Everything You Can
If physically able, take photos of:
Get contact information from anyone who saw what happened — before the company separates you from your coworkers.
4. Preserve Any Physical Evidence
Keep damaged equipment: torn safety harness, broken tools, damaged electrical equipment, torn clothing showing machinery contact. Don’t let your employer take this evidence “for investigation” without photographing it first.
Within 72 Hours:
5. Contact a Maritime Lawyer Immediately
Fatal Four cases require fast action because:
An experienced maritime attorney will immediately demand that your employer preserve all evidence before it “disappears.”
The Evidence Your Lawyer Will Demand
When you hire Lambert Zainey, we immediately force your employer to turn over the documents that prove their negligence:
OSHA Inspection Reports: Showing your employer was cited for the same violations before your accident — proving they knew about the danger.
Internal Accident Investigation Files: Often these reports admit safety rules were violated.
Safety Meeting Minutes: Documenting that supervisors and managers knew about the specific hazard (like “broken guardrail on deck 3”) but failed to fix it.
Maintenance and Inspection Records: Proving equipment wasn’t maintained or inspected as required by OSHA.
Training Records: Showing you and your coworkers never received required safety training.
Surveillance Video: Before they “lose” or erase footage showing what really happened.This evidence doesn’t stay available forever. Companies have been known to “accidentally” destroy records, repair hazards immediately after accidents, and claim violations never existed. That’s why you need a lawyer who acts fast.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Fatal Four Maritime Accidents
You Deserve Compensation — And We Know How to Get It
If you’ve been catastrophically injured in a Fatal Four accident, you’re facing medical bills, lost income, and a future that’s been changed forever. Your employer’s violation of basic safety laws caused this — and they need to be held accountable.
At Lambert Zainey, we’ve spent decades fighting for injured maritime workers across Louisiana and the Gulf Coast. We know how to:
You didn’t cause this accident. Your employer’s decision to ignore federal safety law did.
Don’t let them minimize what happened to you or pressure you into accepting less than you deserve.
Call Lambert Zainey today for a free, confidential case review: 800-521-1750
The clock is ticking on your claim. Let us fight for you.
