Contractors and Sub-Contractors that deal with Federal projects should be familiar with the different types of Workers Compensation programs they may encounter. One such federal program is the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Program.
The Longshore and Harbor Workers Comp Program offers compensation and health benefits to workers involved in the waters, seas and oceans, in and around the US including maritime workers. These benefits include wage reimbursement, medical benefit payments and rehabilitation expenses for employees who are injured or become ill as a result of their employment. It extends to occupational diseases as well, and payments are also made to the families and survivors of workers who sustain life threatening injuries, illness and diseases, so long as these were caused by work related issues. Contractors and sub-contractors may also be covered depending upon the situation.
According to the program, it provides benefits and payments to about 500,000 workers and their families who are injured working on the navigable waters of our country and surrounding areas. These benefits extend to other workers including contractors and sub-contractors covered by the corresponding government Act.  Payments are made to cover lost wages, medical services, rehabilitation services and vocational training. Compensation is also provided to the surviving family members of deceased employees and workers.
Funds are dispensed through a number of means, including insurance carriers, authorized self-insured employers, and special funds administered directly by the Division of Longshore Compensation. Over 27,000 cases are processed on a yearly basis, providing over $747 million dollars in payments to beneficiaries of the program. In addition, the program provides over $2.8 billion dollars to assure that workers continue to receive insurance coverage.
