The mission of the Division of Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation (DLHWC) is to minimize the impact of employment injuries and deaths on employees and their families by ensuring that workers’ compensation benefits are provided promptly and properly under law.

Enacted in 1927, the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) compensates for lost wages, medical benefits, and rehabilitation services to longshore, harbor and other maritime workers who are injured during their employment or who contract an occupational disease related to employment. Survivor benefits are also provided if the work-related injury or disease causes the employee’s death.

In addition, LHWCA covers a variety of other employees through extensions to the Act. U.S. government contractors and subcontractors are covered under limited circumstances through the Defense Base Act. The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) covers most offshore oil rig workers and the Non-Appropriated Fund Instrumentalities Act (NAFIA) covers Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) workers on U.S. military installations.

Benefits are paid directly by an authorized self-insured employer, through an authorized insurance carrier, or in particular circumstances, by an industry financed Special Fund.