Abstract
Laboratory tests of personal hearing protectors typically overestimate the attenuation performance of the devices in the workplace, where a number of factors reduce protection levels. This research investigated several practical factors including the influence of the user's work-related movement, and variations in headband compression force and earcup cushion material (liquid- or foam-filled) on the noise attenuation achieved with earmuff hearing protectors. Attenuation data were collected on 24 subjects both prior-to and following completion of a simulated work task. Work-related movement was found to significantly decrease attenuation. A high compression headband provided increased attenuation, while there was no significant difference between cushion types as to protection achieved.
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