Main engines, generators, compressors and purifiers produce noise that can permanently damage hearing over months and years. Noise-induced hearing loss is gradual and painless — and it cannot be reversed.
Know the warning signs
- You need to shout to be heard by someone an arm’s length away.
- Your ears ring (tinnitus) after a watch.
- Speech sounds muffled for a while after leaving a noisy space.
Choosing protection
- Earmuffs (ear defenders) — quick to put on and off, easy to check they are being worn.
- Foam earplugs — effective when inserted correctly; roll, insert deeply and hold while they expand.
- Moulded or reusable plugs — comfortable for long wear; keep them clean.
- Combination — plugs plus muffs for very loud areas, if your company’s procedures call for it.
The best protection is the one you wear correctly every time. Even short periods without it in very loud areas add up.
Looking after equipment
Replace worn or hardened earmuff seals, do not stretch headbands, and keep spare plugs available at the entrance to machinery spaces.
Report changes
Tell your senior engineer or the ship’s medical officer about hearing changes, and mention them at your next medical examination.
Sources
- World Health Organization — Deafness and hearing loss — fact sheet (opens in a new tab)
- ILO / IMO — Guidelines on the medical examinations of seafarers (2011) (opens in a new tab)
Links go to the original publishers. SeafarerFit is not affiliated with or endorsed by these organizations.
SeafarerFit provides educational information, health calculators, screening tools and medical-examination preparation resources. It does not provide diagnosis, treatment, medical certification or official determination of fitness for sea service.