On smaller watercraft, anchors tend to be small and just attached to the boat with a rope. Deploying them is a simple process that does not come with a large amount of risk. Someone with a summer cabin may anchor their sailboat far enough out in the water that the centerboard is not in danger of striking the bottom, for example.
But on large ships like cargo freighters, cruise ships, military vessels and large pleasure yachts, deploying an anchor can be very dangerous. It is often connected to the boat by a chain, and the chain is pulled through the appropriate housings at a high rate of speed once the anchor is dropped. This poses serious risks to employees on those ships if they become entangled in the chain as the anchor descends, as they could be pulled overboard or suffer serious injuries to the entangled extremities.
How can these workers stay safe?
When the proper procedures are followed, anchors can be deployed safely. Many injuries are the result of mistakes, oversights or safety violations.
This does not necessarily mean that the injured party was responsible. For instance, if one worker on a cargo freighter deploys an anchor without informing others, they could be far too close to the chain or the gear system that supports it. This could cause the employee to be suddenly entangled and injured, even though they did not know that the anchor was in use at all.
Often, these accidents can lead to fatal injuries or life-changing injuries, such as amputations, spinal cord injuries and the like. Those who have suffered such injuries must know about all of their legal options moving forward.