Work performed overseas on military bases and in volatile locations can cause accidents of an unusual nature to occur. The following examples demonstrate how location, environment and job duties can elicit atypical types of employee injury while working OCONUS.
DBA Claim Example #1: A contractor is awarded work to de-mine the vegetation along the naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Employees working under the contract use free time to visit the local beaches for some recreational activity. While in the water, one of the employees is bitten by a shark and requires medical attention.
DBA Claim Example #2: An employee deployed to Iraq to work as a pilot breaks his ankle while playing racquetball on the base he is assigned to.
DBA Claim Example #3: An employee responsible for operating cargo screening machines entering bases in Iraq is diagnosed with a bleeding ulcer. Treatment for the condition includes cauterizing the ulcer at a local hospital, followed by recuperation in nearby Jordan. The employee is then evacuated back to the United States but, because military doctors caring for the employee are concerned about a potential “bleed out” of the ulcer on a commercial flight, they require the employee be medically evacuated back to the U.S.
Under domestic Workers’ Compensation Insurance, such claims would typically be denied coverage. Under DBA Insurance, however, such claims are often deemed compensable under the DBA Zone of Special Danger doctrine, which allows coverage for accidents and injuries that occur during “condoned recreational activity” while working in dangerous locations. It also allows for more lenient interpretation of compensability of claims, meaning that activities not normally considered part of the contracted work and/or ailments that transpire over time as a result of adverse working conditions are given consideration due to the contained environment.
Because of the unusual circumstances relating to contracted work performed overseas, it’s crucial that contractors seek the help of a reliable broker to assist them in understanding the nuances of DBA Insurance. As the DBA broker for Allied World Assurance, the LATITUDE team has a deep understanding of the complexities and unique business needs associated with government contracts and the Defense Base Act, and can assist contractors in creating an insurance plan that protects their business and its employees against overseas exposures. Contact LATITUDE DBA Insurance today!
