Local Law Firms Home > Maritime Law Overview > Illness at Sea > Swimmers Ear Maritime Swimmers Ear Working by the water could be dangerous business. Heavy lifting, lack of sleep and demanding hours all come together to make working for a living unbelievably stressful. But people who work in offshore jobs usually know the importance of their jobs and carry them out. But even in this case, most people aren’t aware of the terrible diseases that can come from working in these environments. They can range from annoying to even deadly. Fortunately, there are laws in place to ensure that maritime workers get compensated under certain circumstances for certain reasons. Have you or someone you know been affected by swimmer’s ear and have worked in an offshore environment such as on a ship or on an oil rig? Contact a maritime lawyer to discuss your legal options today. Swimmers ear, which is also called Otitis Externa, is an infection that takes place in the outer ear canal. This infectection usually comes from being exposed to contaminated waters. Though this may not seem common, it can actually be a big problem on a national scale. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, swimmer’s ear adds up to over 2.4 million healthcare visits per day and results in about $500 million in healthcare costs. Swimmers ear can be extremely painful with symptoms such as:
These infections can be very painful but fortunately, they are treated rather easily. Although, until the infection is taken care of a worker may find it very difficult to work with such a condition. Time may need to be taken from work to attend medical care. The care needed to cure this infection could also be very pricey. There are laws in place to protect offshore workers and their health by providing compensation for situations such as lost time at work or medical care. But maritime law can be difficult to navigate. It is best to consider professional legal help in these cases. If you or someone you know has been affected by swimmers ear and have worked in an offshore job, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact a maritime lawyer in your area today. |