Controlling risk due to noise on ferryboats

Abstract

Environmental and occupational noise is a common nuisance that affects the health of employees. Performed health checks of employees engaged by the Company "Pomorski Saobraćaj" showed that 5% of examined sailors had hearing loss. The results were a trigger for starting experiment on noise risk assessment with the objective of discovering the possibilities of noise pollution presence, precise significant noise sources and describing solutions for eliminating negative effects. Several measurements on five positions were performed on the ferryboat "KAMENARI", according to EC Physical Agents Directive and Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels Regulations 2007. Noise on the selected positions exceeded the limit by about 1-5 dB. The noise exposure level was 84.5 dB. Diesel engine, exhaust system and structural noise were the main sources of excessive noise. The experiment shows noise presence as nuisance that affects sailors. Noise presents a serious threat for the sailors' health. It interferes with crew communication and jeopardizes navigation safety. Technical measures, crew health checks and noise monitoring could prevent all the negative effects.