Hearing loss and noise exposure at sea
Engine-room and deck noise exposure is a slow-cumulative injury that compounds over a career. Prevention is straightforward; the damage is permanent.
Engine-room exposure typically exceeds 85 dB(A) — the Occupational Safety and Health threshold for mandatory hearing protection. Over a career, unprotected exposure produces high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss that reduces STCW-medical-eligible hearing thresholds and often ends deep-sea careers early. Deck workers also face substantial impulse noise from cargo operations, ballast pumps, and mooring winches.
Practical steps
- Wear engine-room hearing protection (28 dB SNR minimum) whenever entering the ER — even for a five-minute walk-around.
- Use custom-moulded earplugs for long watches — off-the-shelf foam plugs lose seal quickly and hurt at 8 hours.
- Take 15-minute quiet breaks every 2 hours; the ear needs recovery time.
- Get a baseline audiogram at first STCW medical + repeat every 2 years.
When to escalate
- Sudden hearing loss after loud impulse (compressor discharge, engine backfire) — treat as medical emergency; sudden sensorineural hearing loss requires steroid treatment within 72 hours.
- Persistent tinnitus that doesn't resolve within 48 hours of rest — request shore-side audiology consultation.
- Audiogram progression year-on-year — flag with Company Doctor + review PPE effectiveness.
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