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Physical Requirements

Whenever it seemed necessary, a description of the particular job has been included in this Guide, written in consultation with a physician who has observed the work being done and agreed to by an official of the employer who has personal experience of the work. These clauses also specify minimum standards for initial pre-employment and periodic medical examinations. The examining physician should read these descriptions before starting examinations, so as to be able to pay special attention to the body systems most relevant to particular occupations or core tasks.

All members of a ship’s complement need to be able-bodied, agile and must be able to cope with the ship's movements which are frequently violent in rough weather. Therefore, there shall be no physical disability which could unduly limit balance, mobility, speed of movement or physical effort to climb through small hatches, up and down gangways, steep stairs and vertical ladders, while carrying heavy tools, equipment, or provisions, and to climb the ship's mast (up to 9 metres above the ship's deck) for maintenance. Must be able to negotiate door sills up to 70 cm in height. For Deck Department Personnel and Engine Department Personnel the work includes inspection of the ship's tanks by descending into such tanks by way of crawling through an opening of approximately 0.7 m by 0.5 m into a confined space having no natural ventilation or light. There should be no limitations of movement in the upper or lower limb joints greater than 30 percent and, as per Division 8 of the Crewing Regulations, the seafarer should be able to lift a mass of 22 kg, to permit the heavy physical work and lifting which will frequently be encountered during repairs or refit. Good balance can be determined by the applicant standing on one leg with eyes closed for 3 seconds or a Romberg and Romberg Tandem Test.

All members of a ship’s complement must be capable of participating in emergency countermeasures and drill activities, such as fire fighting, damage control and launching and handling of lifesaving equipment such as lifeboats and life-raft, among others. Every member of the complement must be able to hear and recognise the different emergency alarms and react quickly. These tasks could include handling fire hoses having a water pressure greater than 690 kPa during fire fighting, while wearing protective fire suits and breathing apparatus. The duties also include performing first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or carrying injured persons to safety on a stretcher, around obstructions, through smoke-filled areas, up vertical ladders, through escape hatches, to transfer the casualty.

Seafarers must have uncorrected vision of at least 6/60 in each eye, and corrected or uncorrected distant vision of at least 6/12 in each eye, and corrected or uncorrected near vision of N5 print size at a distance of 30 cm to 50 cm. Exceptions to the application of the visual acuity requirements to engineers and other categories of seafarers can be determined by reference to Division 8 of the Crewing Regulations.

For Deck Department Personnel these requirements are meant to ensure that there is sufficient visual acuity to permit the seafarer to: plot courses accurately and recognise miniscule chart symbols.use radar and other instruments accurately in low light conditions.take bearings on distant objects to an accuracy of half a degree.

detect coloured signal lights at minimum legal ranges according to the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea, 1972 with Canadian Modifications as set out in Rule 22 of Schedule I of the Collision Regulations. identify objects close up or at a distance in varying weather conditions and visibility such as extreme wind, cold, fog, freezing spray, heavy seas, rain, glaring sun, at night, etc. adjust to day and night vision.

For Engine Department Personnel these requirements are meant to ensure that there is sufficient visual acuity to permit the seafarer to: read digital, analogue and level gauges and dials at close proximity. visually detect fluid leaks, loose parts, engine malfunctions, fire, etc. in locations where lighting may be poor.

For Cooks and Stewards these requirements are meant to ensure that there is sufficient visual acuity to permit the seafarer to perform cooking, cleaning, and waiter duties, and to carry heavy loads safely throughout the ship.

Seafarers must have the ability to see objects in the normal range of periphery, of 160 degrees horizontally and 135 degrees vertically, so as to avoid dangers from objects overhead, to the side, and close to the deck, and to permit the performance of regular and emergency duties.

Seafarers must have normal depth perception, as determined by the FLY test or the WIRT stereoscopic test so as to avoid dangers and to permit the performance of regular and emergency duties.

Some tasks require the ability to perceive colours accurately and some seafarers, therefore, must have colour vision depending on occupation on board ship. Exceptions to the applicability of the colour vision requirements to engineers and other categories of seafarers can be determined by reference to Division 8 of the Crewing Regulations. Pseudoisochromatic Plates make up the principal test of colour vision acceptable to Transport Canada.

Deck Department Personnel must have sufficient colour vision to distinguish between white, red, green, and yellow navigation lights in accordance with the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea, 1972 with Canadian Modifications as set out in Rule 22 of Schedule I of the Collision Regulations, and be able to distinguish various shades of the above, for example, to identify the colour of an unlit buoy in the distance at dusk.

Engine Department Personnel must have sufficient colour vision to distinguish between red, yellow, green and white, and be able to distinguish miniscule number-coded or colour-coded wires for matching purposes.

Seafarers must have hearing which is conversationally adequate in both ears and must be able to hear conversational voice communication at a distance of 3 metres and by radio and telephone; hearing aids are permitted to be worn by the applicant for the purpose of this determination. These requirements are also meant to ensure that the seafarer has sufficient hearing sensitivity to communicate verbally with reasonable facility in conditions which may include background noises greater than 85 dBA from machinery and radio interference so as to be able to carry out instructions quickly.

For Deck Department Personnel these requirements are meant to ensure that the seafarer has sufficient hearing sensitivity to permit the seafarer to: recognise bells, whistles, sirens and alarms.accurately distinguish and identify sounds and the direction from which they're coming (frequently simultaneous and from unexpected locations). hear fog signals from whistles or bells up to a distance of two miles.

For Engine Department Personnel these requirements are meant to ensure that the seafarer has sufficient hearing sensitivity to permit the seafarer to: detect and recognise normal or abnormal variations in machinery sounds. recognise and distinguish warnings, such as general alarm, fire alarm, fire extinguishing (CO₂, Halon) flooding alarms, water-tight door closure alarm, engine room control panel alarms and telephone ring.

For Cooks and Stewards these requirements are meant to ensure that there is sufficient hearing sensitivity to permit the seafarer to distinguish between fire alarm, general alarm, cooking and washing signals, etc.

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