OBJECTIVE: This paper evaluated the effects of noise and its influence on the quality of life of firefighters in the military firefighters' group, the 21 GBM. ACCOUNT: This research study was approved by the Comitê de Pesquisa of FacRedentor (nº006/2012) and was conducted through direct data collection in association with the observation of their habits and work routine. The collection consisted of the measurement of noise (e.g., ambient noise and vehicularnoise) and hearing evaluations. A sound level meter (INSTRUTHERM) was used. The hearing evaluation comprised 2steps: (1) a specific anamnesis and (2) audiometry byusing an audiometer (MAICO). Eighty-one firefighters took part in the first step. Individuals who reported hearing loss (47 firefighters) were selected for the second phase. CONCLUSION:Sixty-three percent of the evaluated firefighters showed alterations in their hearing examination results, and 100% of the firefighters related discomfort in regard to noise. The discomfort was mainly headache, irritability, and insomnia. The alarm siren can be as high as 112.7dB (decibels), and during the attendance of the occurrence (i.e., inside the fire engine) it can be as high as 100.4 dB. The firefighters are unaware of the hearing risks to which they are exposed. There are no measures for the promotion of or the prevention of hearing loss, which juts the necessity of hearing health politics,hearing health program, and measures of controlling and reducing local noise. KEYWORDS: firefighter, hearing health, noise, quality of life.
