THE EFFECT OF AGE, YEARS OF SERVICE, AND THE APPLICATION OF HEARING PROTECTION DEVICES ON THE HEARING THINGS OF WORKERS IN NOISY WORK ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

The noise intensity in the tanker engine room which is the source of noise reaches more than 115 dB, where the noise there has exceeded the threshold and is at great risk of causing health problems such as a decrease in the hearing threshold of workers inside because the machines must remain on for 24 hours. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of age, years of service, and use of hearing protection devices on the hearing threshold of ship workers in the engine room environment of the tanker PT. Tanto Intimate Line. This study uses analytic observational research by conducting a cross-sectional approach to find the relationship between descriptive variables with observational methods and qualitative data types. The results showed that the noise intensity in the ship's engine room was 115.3-118 dB(A), 60% of workers who used ear protection according to SOPs, 63.3% of workers aged 40 years, 70% of workers with 15 years of service, the normal hearing threshold of workers is 66.7% of workers, and age, years of service, and the use of hearing protection deviceaffect the hearing threshold of workers. Suggestions for the company are providing training or socialization for workers, as well as seeking ear protection facilities that are comfortable to wear, as well as conducting supervision. Suggestions for other researchers are to investigate further the comfort or condition of hearing protection devices and examine the length of noise exposure experienced by workers.