A test used to determine whether an employee qualifies as a seaman under the Jones Act or as a longshoreman or harbor worker under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA). To consider whether an employee qualifies as a seaman, his/her job must contribute to the function of a ship or its mission. For a longshoreman or harbor worker, the requirement is that the employment involves the loading and unloading of ships or the maintenance, repair, or dismantling of ships. Note that, under the LHWCA, even if an employee proves "status," "situs" must also be established in order to gain benefits under the Act.

A federal law that provides no-fault workers compensation benefits to employees other than masters or crew members of a vessel injured in maritime employment—generally, in loading, unloading, repairing, or building a vessel. Employers can obtain coverage under a standard workers compensation policy by purchasing an LHWCA coverage endorsement.