There are numerous ways in which crew members can get hurt, and for almost all of them it is your employer who can be held accountable. Many of you may not even realize that you have been experienced these circumstances. The most common causes of injuries are:

• Slips and falls
• Pulling, pushing or lifting heavy objects (either repeatedly or once)
• Dangerous working conditions
• Poor or inadequate conditions on board
• Unsuitable sanitation method
• Abusive labor policies
• Lack of equipment
• Insufficient number of crew members, which leads to a longer hours or harder work

Just as there are numerous ways in which crew members can get hurt, there are various injuries they can experience, including:

• Back injuries, including pulls, strains or herniated discs
• Injuries to the neck
• Lacerations or cuts
• Broken arms, hands or legs
• Eye injuries, such as punctures, chemical damage, and debris-related problems
• Injuries to the head or ears caused by strong impact, loud noise etc.
• Injuries to the internal organs
• Burns
• Diseases like norovirus

If any of these have happened to you or someone you love on a cruise ship, it is your right and duty to seek the compensation you deserve. By doing so, you will hopefully encourage your employers to make significant changes so that similar incidents are avoided in the future.

If you get an injury while working on a cruise ship, please follow these tips:

1. IMMEDIATELY REPORT THE ISSUE

If you are injured, or if you are a victim of an assault, you must report the incident immediately. Report and document all the possible details related to the cruise company. Ensure that the company's standard procedures are followed, including that a due report and investigation are completed.

2. THE RULES OF THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION APPLY

Cruise ships must adhere to the rules of the International Maritime Organization, which require that safety management systems are in place. Such systems include an accident report and investigation, and they detail what cruise companies need to do after any type of accident.

3. ASSUMPTION OF RISK FORMS

Activities such as rock climbing, ice skating or zip lining pose a safety risk to the passengers. Passengers usually need to sign a risk form prior to these activities.  As per the Maritime Law, the cruise companies are not allow to contract away any of their responsibility for any negligence that results in an injury to a passenger.

4. BE AWARE

Be aware that the investigation carried out by the cruise company complies with the standard procedure and is under the assumption of litigation. Cruise lines will collect information if the event legal action is taken. The cruise company will attempt to conduct an investigation in a fashion that will assist them in defending any potential claim that they may be sued for. Please be aware of what you say.

5. DOCUMENT ALL

Document all details that you can. The documentation must contain information about where the accident occurred, how it occurred, if any crew members were the cause of the incident, as well as the names and room numbers of any witnesses. Furthermore, document the injuries themselves and how they occurred. This kind of documentation will help you to remember all the details that one can easily forget and will be of great help when legal action is taken.

6. CONTACT AN ATTORNEY

No matter if the incident is small or big, it's important to get in touch with a lawyer.  He or she will guide you through the process and determine how big a compensation you deserve for the unfortunate incident you have undergone.