Fit Testing for Hearing Protection: A Practical Introduction for Your WorkplaceWorkers are often exposed to hazardous noise on the job. When the noise cannot be eliminated or reduced to a safe level at the noise source, hearing protectors are worn to reduce noise exposure. Hearing protectors include ear plugs and ear muffs. It can be difficult to know if the hearing protector being worn is reducing the noise level enough such that a worker's hearing is being adequately protected. Hearing protector fit testing is a procedure used to measure the amount of noise reduction provided by a specific hearing protector on an individual worker. Fit testing is a quantitative way to make sure the individual fit of the hearing protector will protect the wearer. It is also a powerful tool for training, which is critical for hearing protectors to be worn correctly. The document below describes hearing protector fit testing, explains why it is important, and includes step-by-step instructions for successfully performing fit testing. It was developed by the National Occupational Research Agenda Hearing Loss Prevention Cross-Sector Council and is hosted exclusively by NHCA. Click the image below to view the document.
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