This October, in recognition of National Protect Your Hearing Month in the United States, the American P&I Club is raising awareness about hearing protection and best practices for seafarers.
According to the American Club, hearing conservation is crucial for the health and wellbeing of all people, especially seafarers. It ensures safe working conditions, clear-headed decision-making in control stations, navigation, radio, and manned machinery spaces, protects mariners from excessive noise levels, and provides comfortable rest, recreation, and recuperation conditions. It also ensures seafarers can recover from the effects of high noise exposure.
Recommendations
As American Club explains, noise is measured in units of sound pressure levels called decibels using A-weighted sound levels (dB(A)). The A-weighted sound levels closely match the perception of loudness by the human ear. Decibels are measured on a logarithmic scale which means that a small change in the number of decibels results in a huge change in the amount of noise and the potential damage to a person’s hearing.
Noise level examples are as follows:
- 85 dB(A) – a passing diesel truck
- 90 dB(A) – using a lawn mower, or arc welder
- 95 dB(A) – using a belt sander
- 100 dB(A) – riding a motorcycle or using a handheld drill
- 105 dB(A) – using a table saw or attending a crowded sporting event
- 110 dB(A) – using a jackhammer or attending a rock-and-roll music concert
- 115 dB(A) – emergency vehicle siren passing by
- 130 dB(A) – jet plane taking off 100 feet (30 meters) away
- 140 dB(A) – pain threshold
Personnel entering spaces with noise levels greater than 85 dB(A) should be required to wear hearing protection while in those spaces. Personnel exposed to noise levels greater than 85 dB(A) outside of enclosed spaces should also be required to wear hearing protection. As a general rule, if you need to raise your voice to speak to someone 3 feet (1 meter) away, the noise level is likely above 85 dB(A).
Hearing protection should be worn in the following spaces:
- the engine room when the main engine or generators are running (engine rooms have been found to be as high as or higher than 100 dB(A)
- other machinery spaces in which internal combustion engines are running
- other machinery spaces with “HIGH NOISE AREA” signs or similar signs that require hearing protection to be worn
Hearing protection should also be worn while performing the following
- using a deck scaler, needle gun, or portable grinder;
- working in the vicinity of any internal combustion engine that is running;
- working in the vicinity of hydraulic motors;
- working in the vicinity of high volume fans including vent fans, exhaust fans, air supply fans, ;
- performing work that involves loud impact noises, especially metal on metal impact noises; and
- during any work in which the noise levels become
Wherever it is not feasible to reduce the noise levels, reduce the duration of noise exposure, or change the location of the work, ear protection should be provided and used to bring noise to an acceptable level below 85 dB(A).
When properly worn, ear plugs can reduce the noise level by 15-30 dB(A) and earmuffs can reduce the noise level by 20-30 dB(A). The combination of ear plugs and earmuffs can add a further 5-10 dB(A) reduction to the noise level.
When noise levels exceed 115 dB(A) in a steady state, ear plugs and earmuffs together should be required.
Everyday Tips
#1 Signage
Ensure signs are posted boldly in areas requiring hearing protection, including signs for required hearing protection use.
#2 Type of ear plugs
Disposable ear plugs can be comfortably worn for long periods of time but shouldn’t be used more than once, particularly in dusty or dirty working environments. Non-disposable ear plugs including custom fit or moldable ear plugs can be washed and reused for months.
#3 Correctly inserting disposable ear plugs
Firmly roll the disposable ear plugs between your fingers. Reach over your head with your arm and gently pull the top of your ear upward, so that the ear canal is straight.
Insert rolled ear plugs and briefly hold them in place while they expand in the ear canal. If the ear plugs cannot be seen from the front, they are in the correct position.
American Club again reminds that good hearing is vital. Practice smart personal protection measures by fostering a company culture where noise protection practices become habits, the Club concludes.