Hearing protection fit testing is now considered best practice for any occupational health and safety program. Benefits of fit testing include:
Selecting the style and size hearing protector that is appropriate for each worker's noise exposure, work environment and personal preferences
Verifying the amount of protection provided in the real world instead of relying on outdated de-rating calculations of laboratory NRR values
Proactively identifying workers with poorly-fitting hearing protectors who are at increased risk of developing hearing loss/shifts in hearing
Improving employee knowledge of hearing protector fit and use, leading to greater motivation for personal safety
Accomplishing required follow-up in cases of Standard Threshold Shift (STS) and other significant shifts in hearing by verifying refit and retraining of hearing protection devices
Producing written documentation of your hearing loss prevention efforts
For more information:
Individual Fit Testing for Hearing Protectors
NRR De-Rating Schemes Are Outdated