Recreational Boatmakers Excluded From Workers’ Comp Act

The U.S. Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act soon will exclude coverage for most workers who maintain or repair recreational boats and watercraft, the U.S. Department of Labor said in a notice Dec. 30.

Under new federal regulations set to take effect Jan. 30, laborers who build, repair or dismantle any recreational water vessel will no longer be covered by the Longshore Act, so long as they are covered under a state’s workers comp law.

Currently, the Longshore Act only excludes workers who repair recreational watercraft under 65 feet in length. The rule change stems from an amendment under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Labor Department said.

The Longshore Act requires compensation and medical care for employees injured on the navigable waters of the United States, or in adjoining areas used in loading, unloading, repairing or building a vessel.

Sheena Harrison writes for Business Insurance, a sister publication of Workforce Management. To comment, email editors@workforce.com.

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