If you’re all about work ethic, discipline, and finishing demanding jobs every day, loading and unloading equipment to and from cargo ships can be an exciting career that can yield plenty of money. Still, if it’s your first day as a longshoreman, here are a few things you can expect so you don’t feel too anxious.
Hard labor
The work you’re doing as a longshoreman will require you to lift heavy objects and transport them for significant distances. The equipment is dangerous and you’re at risk of slowing down the team. Expect to lift, carry, climb, push, pull, and otherwise manipulate large loads of items for hours at a time. If you get hurt, don’t hesitate to contact an attorney. Still, you should prepare for tough hours from the start.
Wet weather and cool temperatures
You’ll be working around the water, and most importantly, outside among the weather and elements. If it’s raining and it’s cold, no clothing is going to keep you completely warm. For that, you’ll need to get plenty of iron in your blood. And while your bosses and colleagues will point out what clothes to wear, it’s in your best interests to be careful about brand names and the kinds of materials you wear. The easier it is to protect your body temperature, the greater control you’ll have over your nervous system as the shift progresses.
Good pay
As a longshoreman, if you want extra money for cool vacations and fancy stuff, know that a longshoreman can make more than $80,000 a year. According to Pay Scale:
- A longshoreman in their late-career can make $44 an hour
- An experienced longshoreman can make $38 an hour
- A longshoreman in their mid-career can earn $31 an hour
- A longshoreman in their early career can earn $22 an hour
- A longshoreman working at the entry-level can make $20 and some change an hour.
These salary estimates suggest you can make good money at any point in your career as a longshoreman, with the ongoing opportunity to earn more. If you’re thinking of the labor and still worried it might be worth it, think again. There is good money in working as a dock worker.
The risk of injury
One analysis of 218 traumatic brain injury cases in the construction industry in Ontario, Canada found that most brain injuries came from falls. Construction and working as a longshoreman are similar due to the required labor. And operating cranes and forklifts could easily put you at risk of getting knocked over the head with some pretty heavy machinery. At the very least, you can suffer a concussion that may put you out of commission for a day or two. These injuries could be career-ending, and if someone else is responsible, an attorney would be pleased to hear your call and begin negotiating a settlement on your behalf. But the best thing you can do is be sure to protect your entire body with the right safety equipment, beginning with your head, and continue monitoring changes in your body as you work.
Longshoreman work a long time for many hours loading and unloading ships. The work requires physical exertion, time around wet weather, and at times, the risk of injury. While work as a longshoreman presents its risks, there is nothing better than the strong pay and potential to join a union. Now that you know what to expect on your first day, remember that you can contact an attorney should you ever need to file a personal injury claim.