What is the difference between a seaman and a non-seaman?

In Washington, maritime injury law is the legal framework governing injuries to workers engaged in maritime and commercial activities. In this context, there is a fundamental difference between a seaman and a non-seaman in terms of the rights and protections available to them. A seaman is an employee whose job duties involve working on board a vessel that is engaged in commercial activities, such as fishing and transport of goods. In general, a seaman is considered to be an integral part of a vessel and is thus subject to a number of specific rights and protections, many of which are designed to protect them from the risk of injury or death due to the dangerous nature of their work. These protections are articulated under the Jones Act, which is a federal statute that provides a cause of action to a seaman injured while performing their job duties. In contrast, a non-seaman is someone whose job duties involve working in a maritime environment, such as on piers, docks, or other shore activities, but do not involve working on board a vessel. As such, a non-seaman is not considered to be an integral part of a vessel and therefore does not enjoy the same level of rights and protections as a seaman. In many cases, non-seaman workers who are injured in the course of their job duties may still be able to seek financial compensation from the employer, but the rights and protections afforded to them are generally much more limited than those applicable to seamen.

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What is the difference between a seaman and a non-seaman?

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