Rigging

[j.sabourn]

As there are a few ex riggers on site maybe they could clarify a few salient points , I will give an actual example. In the early 60s I was mate on a ship coming out of dry dock on the Clyde. There were no crew on board and riggers were employed for the move into the river. The forward gang consisted of a foreman and about 6 riggers. Obviously they had just rolled out of the pub, during the course of events , think it was the foreman lost a couple of fingers , but managed to get him to a hospital. The following day the owner of the rigging company came to see me with a piece of paper to sign , saying the man had been intoxiated I refused to sign it. I also said I wasn’t qualified to say if he was drunk or not and the only person so qualified was the doctor who treated him. It also appeared to me that he had had no luck there either. It also appeared to me that the owner of the rigging company was trying to absolve the company of any blame by not paying compensation to the injured man. One of my queries In That period of time the 60s were the Rigging company’s not obliged to carry insurance for their workforce. My attitude after refusing to declare the mans sobriety was to state the ship was not on any crew
agreement and was not up to the ship to have to explain any actions taken by temporary employees.The man did get compensated I am pleased to say, who paid I wasnt that too interested to find out. Maybe the shipyard itself may have paid. As was probably them who had used the rigging firm. JS

[Ivan Cloherty]

John I would imagine any major company, such as a shipyard would carry Third Party Liability Insurance but would ensure that any subcontractor would also carry TPLI. I know my business had to, and also ensured any subby carried it also. Had damage been caused to the vessel by the riggers then the owners would have sued the Dockyard and upon settlement the Dockyard would have sued the Rigging company for the same costs plus legal costs for both actions. Of course in today's moral world the Rigging company would have declared bankruptcy and started up the next day under a different name and different directors thus absolving themselves of all liability.

[happy daze john in oz]

John, even back then all employers had to have some basic cover.
But it does sound as if this one for some reason, maybe not paid up, wants to get out of it.
As to the drink, as the employer I would consider it his responsibilty to his workers were fir to work.ensure