On Jan. 30, regulations will take effect for a rule under the U.S. Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act that will exclude most workers who maintain or repair recreational boats and watercraft.
According to an article on BusinessInsurance.com, an amendment under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 excluded laborers who repair or dismantle any recreational water vessel from coverage under the Longshore Act, as long as they are covered under a state’s workers’ comp law.
The new regulations will include an updated definition of “recreational vessel” as well as standards for determining the effective date of a worker’s injury.
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.