A wrench. A shackle. A length of pipe. On a vessel with multiple levels of deck and work platforms, anything left near an unguarded edge can become a projectile. Toe boards exist to stop that from happening. When they’re missing, damaged, or never installed in the first place, workers below pay for it.
Traumatic brain injuries caused by falling objects are among the most serious injuries in maritime work and among the most preventable.
Why Falling Objects Are Such a Serious Hazard Offshore
Maritime worksites operate vertically. Crew members work on elevated platforms, gantries, and decks while others work directly below. Tools, equipment, and materials are constantly in motion. Without proper toe boards and edge protection in place, anything near the edge of an elevated surface can fall.
A hard hat offers some protection, but it was never designed to absorb the full impact of heavy equipment falling from height. The physics are straightforward: even a relatively small object dropped from 10 or 20 feet carries enough force to cause a serious head injury.
What a TBI Looks Like for a Maritime Worker
Traumatic brain injuries from falling objects range from concussions to severe, permanent neurological damage. The challenge with TBIs is that the full extent of the injury isn’t always obvious immediately after the accident.
Workers often experience:
- Headaches, dizziness, and confusion in the days following the impact
- Memory problems and difficulty concentrating that persist for weeks or months
- Mood changes, irritability, and sleep disruption that affect relationships and quality of life
- Seizures in more severe cases
- Permanent cognitive impairment that makes returning to maritime work impossible
Company doctors frequently clear workers too quickly after a head injury. If you were struck by a falling object and told you have a mild concussion, that assessment deserves a second opinion from a neurologist of your choosing.
Missing Toe Boards Are a Maintenance Failure
Toe boards are a basic safety requirement on elevated work surfaces. Their job is simple: stop tools and equipment from rolling or sliding off the edge. When they’re absent, broken, or inadequate for the work being performed, that is a maintenance failure, and maintenance failures on a vessel create liability.
Under maritime law, vessel owners have a duty to provide a seaworthy vessel with safe working conditions. A worksite with missing or damaged toe boards on elevated platforms does not meet that standard. Employers also have an independent duty under the Jones Act to provide a reasonably safe workplace.
Negligence in these cases often includes:
- Failing to install toe boards on elevated platforms and work decks
- Allowing damaged toe boards to remain in place without repair
- Not enforcing policies requiring tools and equipment to be secured near edges
- Inadequate supervision of work being performed on elevated surfaces
Your Rights After a Falling Object TBI
If you’re a seaman who suffered a TBI from a falling object, the Jones Act gives you the right to pursue a negligence claim against your employer. You may also have an unseaworthiness claim if the vessel’s platforms or safety equipment were not properly maintained.
You are entitled to maintenance and cure from the date of your injury. For TBI patients, care can be extensive, covering neurological evaluations, imaging, specialist care, and rehabilitation. Do not let your employer cut off your medical benefits before your treatment is complete.
TBIs also have a way of being undervalued in early settlement discussions. Cognitive and neurological effects often worsen or become clearer over time. Settling too quickly can leave you without the resources to cover the care you’ll need for years.
Hurt by a Falling Object Offshore? Call Us.
If you suffered a head injury from a falling object on a vessel or offshore worksite, The Maritime Injury Law Firm is ready to fight for you. George Vourvoulias has spent over 20 years representing maritime workers whose injuries were more serious than their employers were willing to admit. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation.
