All U.S. states and territories have workers’ compensation laws, commonly referred to as “state acts”, for the protection of injured of workers. The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, or Longshore Act, is also a workers’ compensation law.
State laws usually cover different types of workers than the Longshore Act, but there is frequent overlap and uncertainty – especially in “concurrent” states, where injured workers are able to file claims under both the Longshore Act and state act.
The most important difference for employers is that state workers’ compensation laws and the Longshore Act are separate exposures. Overlapping jurisdictions and coverage uncertainties mean employers must be sure to have the correct coverage.
