Are your staff wearing ear plugs correctly?
Hear 4 The Long Terms Earplug Fit Test is an online test that will immediately inform you whether the earplugs fitted are providing a suitable level of protection for your staff.
No specialist equipment
No specialist equipment is required, just a pair of good quality wired, over-the-ear headphones where the cups enclose your ears, your internet connected tablet, laptop or computer and the earplugs you wish to test.
Any brand ear plug
No bias towards a particular brand of ear plug, this works with any manufacturers earplug that is inserted into the ear.
Instant Results
Upon completing the test, the result is instantly displayed on the screen by showing a PAR ( Personal Attenuation Rating) for each ear. It also highlights whether both ears have ‘passed’ or not.
Free Re-Tests
If one or both ears have failed by not reaching the expected attenuation level, it offers the opportunity to carry out a free re-test.
Staff Confidence
The result can give you confidence the ear plugs issued are providing a suitable level of protection, this includes ensuring that staff are not ‘over protected’.
Custom moulded ear plugs
In addition to being able to test any brand of disposable or reusable ear plug, this test also works well for any custom moulded ear plugs. This is often overlooked as the initial good fit can be compromised over several years due to degradation and changes to our ear shape.
Secure Data
All data is stored on a secure server and provides a comprehensive audit trail of hearing protection performance for each employee.
The Last Form of Defence
At work, hearing protection is the last form of defence in the hierarchy of controls and a quick win to protect staff while the other controls of being implemented. So, it is therefore important that you can be confident that your staff, if being issued hearing protection, are being protected.
Ear Plugs are a popular choice due to their compatibility with other forms of Personal Protective Equipment however, they must be fitted precisely. Whilst some manufacturers provide guidance on the correct way to insert them, different ear canal shapes and fitting methods result in different attenuation levels for people.
Issuing hearing protection alone does not guarantee protection from noise-induced hearing loss. One common misconception is that the higher the SNR (Single Number Rating) on the packaging, the more effective the earplugs are. However, ‘suitable hearing protection’ involves more than just a high SNR—it also means avoiding ‘over-protection.’ According to the HSE L108 guidance, protection levels should not reduce noise below 70dBA at the ear, as this may also interfere with communication and awareness.