Earplug Fit Testing
DLS Safety Services provides quantitative fit testing for any brand of earplugs, including custom hearing protection.
Achieving adequate hearing protection is not simple. It depends upon:
- The proper fit and comfort of the earplugs
- How you train the employee to properly use the earplugs
- Observing consistent and proper use of the earplugs by the employee
NRR ratings can be largely inaccurate. The only way to know for sure if your employee is receiving adequate hearing protection is to measure it.
How It Works
- Earplug fit testing can be conducted on its own or immediately following audiometric testing.
- A specially designed set of headphones is used for testing.
- The employee is tested with and without hearing protection to determine their Personal Attenuation Rating (PAR) – the amount of hearing protection they are actually receiving.
- When the PAR is compared to the noise exposure level the employee is working in, a determination can be made as to whether the employee’s hearing protection is sufficient.
- Earplug fit testing can be a powerful tool to train employees how to correctly use hearing protection.