Maritime Occupational Health and Safety Regulations

161 (1) Subject to subsections (2) to (4), the level of sound in a work place must be less than 85 dB.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), if it is not feasible for an employer to maintain the sound level in the work place at less than 85 dB, an employee must not be exposed in any 24-hour period

• (a) to a level of sound set out in column 1 of the table to this section for a number of hours that is more than the number set out in column 2; or

• (b) to any combination of the different levels of sound set out in column 1 of the table to this section, if the number of hours of exposure to each level of sound divided by the maximum number of hours of exposure for that level per 24-hour period set out in column 2 of the table to this section is more than one.

(3) An employee must not be exposed to a continuous level of sound in crew accommodation that is more than 75 dB.

(4) If the level of impulse sound in a work place is more than 140 dB, the employer must provide every employee entering the work place with a hearing protector that

• (a) meets the standards set out in CSA Standard CAN/CSA-Z94.2-02 (R2007), Hearing Protection Devices — Performance, Selection, Care and Use; and

• (b) reduces the peak level of impulse sound reaching the employee’s ears to 140 dB or less.

(5) Unless otherwise specified, the limits for noise levels for working spaces and crew accommodation must fall within the ILO international guidelines on exposure levels, including those in the ILO code of practice entitled Ambient factors in the workplace, 2001, and, if applicable, the specific protection recommended by the IMO, and any subsequent amending and supplementary instruments for acceptable noise levels on board vessels.

(6) A copy of the documents in English and in French referred to in subsection (5) must be kept on board the vessel and be made available to employees.