3M Hearing Protection Solutions has announced its latest hearing protector fit test system to help combat noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), – which routinely shows the highest number of recordable illness cases in manufacturing.
The 3M E A Rfit Dual-Ear Validation System measures the effectiveness of earplugs and earmuffs from inside the employee’s ear, providing accurate, quantitative results for both ears simultaneously. The system now tests both ears for all seven standard frequencies in seconds, generating a Personal Attenuation Rating (PAR) to customize hearing protector selection.
Luciana Macedo, Senior Occupational Hygienist at 3M said: “The dual-ear system enables companies to quickly identify employees at risk for noise-induced hearing loss, assist with training on the selection and use of hearing protectors.
While other systems rely on the employee’s subjective response to test signals, the 3M fit-testing system measures sound pressure levels objectively. Therefore, the test can be performed in relatively high levels of background noise and is not affected by the hearing level of the employee.
Once the measurement is complete, the software displays the PAR along with a pass/fail indicator based on the worker’s noise exposure level. The system helps employers ensure proper use of the hearing protection and helps identify earplug or earmuff models offering the best protection, such as the popular 3M E-A-R Classic Earplugs or the 3M PELTOR Earmuffs X Series.
The 3M E-A-Rfit Validation System includes all the hardware and accessories needed, including a speaker, software, stand, dual-element microphones, cables and a trial quantity of probed test plugs.