HPD Selection and Use
It is essential to the success of the program to have someone responsible for the selection of hearing protection devices and the supervision of their use. They must be able to evaluate and select appropriate devices for each employee, based on:
- proper fit,
- the employee's noise exposure, hearing ability, communication needs, personal preferences, and
- constraints imposed by job tasks or work environment.
Not every person can wear every hearing protector. Some people may be unable to wear certain types of earplugs because of the shape or size of their ear canals. Because of individual differences in the shapes and sizes of heads, some people will be unable to wear some earmuffs. Individual assessment of comfort and ability to tolerate prolonged use of a given device cannot be predicted and will vary widely between individuals. Also, some protectors may be incompatible with differing safety and protective devices.
Therefore, the person responsible for selecting hearing protection devices must make a variety of devices available. Preferably, they should make available a set of devices that have been pilot-tested for effectiveness and employee acceptance.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
4-6. What should the person responsible for selecting hearing protection devices do to make sure hearing protectors work for all employees?
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