Lake Charles to Gulf platforms: Jones Act claims for offshore seamen exposed to chemicals

Vessels servicing Gulf platforms carry AFFF (aqueous film-forming foam) systems designed to control fuel fires. AFFF contains PFAS chemicals that build up in the liver and kidneys and don't break down naturally. Workers come into contact with the foam during monthly equipment tests, fire drills with portable extinguishers, and real emergencies where foam soaks through their gear.

PFAS also appear in hydraulic fluids, equipment lubricants, vessel coatings, and water-resistant materials used throughout maritime operations. Contaminated gear stored in crew quarters allows continuous transfer of these chemicals to living spaces during multi-week offshore rotations. Health problems from PFAS might develop while you're still working offshore or many years after exposure.

Asbestos and diesel exhaust during vessel maintenance

Older vessels and platforms contain asbestos in pipe insulation, gaskets, valve packing, and fireproofing materials. Maintenance work breaks up these materials and releases fibers that workers breathe in while working in cramped areas without much airflow. Engine room work, insulation removal, and gasket replacement pose exposure risks. Asbestos diseases often show up decades later, making it important to document your offshore work history now.

Supply vessels and crew boats run diesel engines nonstop during offshore work. The exhaust builds up in engine rooms and below-deck spaces where workers do maintenance. Long exposure during weeks-long shifts may raise cancer risk, especially when ventilation fails or gets bypassed to speed up repairs.

Jones Act coverage and employer liability

The Jones Act protects employees who work on vessels in navigable waters as part of their regular job. Seaman status requires proving an ongoing connection to a vessel or fleet. Crew boat operators transporting personnel offshore, supply vessel crews, and tugboat workers can qualify when they spend significant time aboard during their Gulf shifts.

Employers may be held liable under the Jones Act when they knew about chemical hazards but failed to protect workers. This includes using PFOS-containing foams past regulatory deadlines, skipping required respiratory protection during AFFF handling, allowing asbestos work without containment or proper equipment, ignoring ventilation failures in diesel exhaust areas, and storing contaminated gear near crew living spaces without decontamination procedures. Workers need to show that these failures directly led to their diagnosis when filing claims.

Filing a Jones Act claim for illnesses and injuries

Workers diagnosed with cancers potentially linked to AFFF exposure may be eligible to file Jones Act claims. These include kidney, testicular, bladder, thyroid, and prostate cancer. Conditions like mesothelioma and lung cancer from asbestos also qualify, along with throat cancers caused by diesel exhaust. Severe injuries from offshore work are also covered.

You'll need detailed records of your vessel work, specific documentation of tasks involving AFFF or asbestos, and evidence that your employer was aware of the dangers during your offshore time.

ELG Law files Jones Act claims on behalf of offshore workers

If you worked aboard vessels departing from Lake Charles and developed cancer or suffered injuries after handling AFFF, working with asbestos materials, or spending time in diesel exhaust environments, you may have a valid Jones Act claim. The Environmental Litigation Group has represented toxic exposure victims for over 35 years. Contact us today for more information about filing a claim related to PFAS, asbestos, or diesel exhaust exposure.