Ruling issued for Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act

WASHINGTON – New amendments to the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act are set to go into effect on Jan. 30 that define the scope of act within the recreational marine industry.

The new guidelines set rules for what constitutes a recreational vessel and what the definition of an employee is for industries covered by the act. With the new ruling, manufacturers and builders will be able to determine whether their vessels are recreational by the nature of the design, rather than by the end use of the product.

The workers’ compensation coverage is limited to injuries occurring on navigable waters of the U.S. or any adjoining pier, wharf, dry dock, terminal, building way, marine railway or other adjoining areas used in loading, unloading, repairing, dismantling or building recreational vessels.

To find out more about the guidelines, go to the LHWCA article in the Federal Register.