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for a more effective fit.
■ Observe the worker’s ear: Which direction opens the ear ca-
nal the most? Give feedback to the worker about which pull direc- tion is most effective. For many people, pulling OUT away from the head is most effective in spreading open the ear canal for a better ear plug fit.
3. Insert
■ Insert the ear plug far enough so that it goes around bends in the ear canal. This often feels sensitive (not painful) or may trig- ger a cough reflex. This is normal.
■ Let go of the pulled-back ear after the ear plug is fully in- serted.
■ For foam ear plugs, hold the ear plug in place for a few sec- onds while the foam expands to fill the ear canal.
For further reference, we’ve developed a troubleshooting chart for improving fit.2 It describes the most common symptoms and solutions for fixing a bad fit, significantly improving the protection levels for noise-exposed workers.
Q: So there really is more to hearing protection than just passing out ear plugs?
A: Yes, but many companies find that by investing in proper selection, fit, and training, the benefits are manifold. Workers rec- ognize what a good fit feels like and sounds like. They are more likely to wear hearing protectors properly off the job as well as on
the job, and cross-training within the peer group increases. Rates of hearing shifts due to workplace noise decline, and indeed, the Hearing Conservation Program successfully stops noise-induced hearing loss.
Brad Witt, MA, CCC-A, is the Director of Hearing Conservation for Honeywell Industrial Safety, the manufacturer of Howard Leight® by Honeywell hearing protection products. He holds a B.S. in Commu- nication Disorders from Brigham Young University and an M.A. in Audiology from Northwestern University. For 14 years, he managed a hearing conservation practice in California, providing OSHA-stan- dard services at 175 locations. He has served as president of the Na- tional Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA) and has presented more than 250 hearing conservation seminars on behalf of Honeywell Safety and Productivity Solutions during the past eight years in 18 countries. Contact him by e-mail at brad.witt@honeywell.com.
REFERENCES
1. Thomas, W., Wright, W., Casali, J. Ear Canal Measurement: EargageTM versus ear impressions. Paper presented at the 19th Annual NHCA Conference, January 1994. Appears in Spectrum, 11(1), 34-35.
2. An interactive version of the Fix-A-Fit guide from Honeywell Industrial Safety can be downloaded from http://www.howardleight.com/hearing-protection/FIX-A-FIT
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