Changes to Longshore and Harbor Workers Regulations Could Impact North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Claims
North Carolina workers’ compensation policy — as it pertains to longshore and harbor workers — could face radical reshaping. According to new regulations proposed by the US Department of Labor, ocean workers – such as boat repairers and builders – may soon be able to avail themselves of more comprehensive workers’ compensation benefits.
The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) has voiced concerns about the regulation changes. According to the new definitions proposed, workers who dismantle or repair or build a boat that’s less than 65 feet in length will now be entitled to benefits above and beyond what they get now. The NMMA worries that manufacturers may not know how their boat products will eventually be used – whether they will be passenger, commercial, or recreational, e.g.. The DOL says that boat workers who do “qualifying maritime” labor as well as “excluded work” should be covered. The NMMA has asked for a 60-day extension to examine the regulations and comment on them.
Given that North Carolina sustains a large and thriving maritime industry – with many boat builders, repairers, and dismantlers – these new DOL regulations may have a deep and broad impact on NC’s maritime economy as well as on the manufacturing industry’s schedule.
The debate over the nuances of these new regulations illustrates how complicated even relatively simple sounding North Carolina workers’ compensation cases can become. This modification to the law – to essentially make boating employers more responsible for their workers – will no doubt stir a lively debate among that industry’s community about the fundamental responsibilities a manufacturer has to employees who build and repair.
Are you struggling with a similarly nuanced and complicated issue pertaining to your benefits? Is your employer refusing to pay you? Or is a liable insurance company balking at paying your full benefits? If you need any kind of help, discuss your problems with a North Carolina workers’ compensation law firm. By getting good upfront advice, you can avoid the pitfalls that often cause cases to drag on for months (if not years), and you can hopefully expedite your pursuit of a fair and complete settlement.
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National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA)
