2009 Longshore Reforms

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Congressman Ron Klien Support efforts in the reform.

Strong Leadership, Unwavering Commitment. The Key to Important Longshore Reforms 2009

In 1927 the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) was created as a gap-filling measure between scare workers compensation and traditional maritime law. If a worker was injured on the dock, while loading and unloading cargo, there was now protective legislation in place that would cover his/her injuries. Clearly the recreational boating industry was not what it is today and there was no specification of the type of work being performed nor the type of vessel.

Fifty years later there were amendments made to the LHWCA that addressed the protection of land-based workers, responding to longshoremen (and their unions respectively) who were excluded from federal coverage when they left a ship. These amendments expanded the universe of those who were required to have LHWCA coverage, including the recreational marine industry, who primarily worked in marinas, boatyards, recreational docks and even manufacturing facilities.

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