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• Verifying the amount of protection provided in the real world instead of relying on outdated de-rating calculations of laboratory NRR values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NRR De-Rating Schemes Are Outdated