Hearing loss and noise exposure at sea

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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.

实用步骤

• 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.

何时升级处理

• 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.

Last verified 16 days ago