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Document ID (ISN)57821
CIS number 92-637
ISSN - Serial title 0018-7208 - Human Factors
Year 1991
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Park M.Y., Casali J.G.
Title A controlled investigation of in-field attenuation performance of selected insert, earmuff and canal cap hearing protectors
Bibliographic information Dec.1991, Vol.33, No.6, p.693-714. Illus. 26 ref.
Abstract Attenuation data were collected from 40 industrial workers wearing four different hearing protection devices (HPDs) while at work. Statistical analyses indicated that the earplugs' attenuation significantly improved when training for proper fitting was used, whereas the earmuff and canal cap were relatively insensitive to the training effect. Results confirmed that laboratory protocols designed to simulate workplace influences on attenuation may not yield reasonable estimates of field protection performance of HPDs, particularly for earplugs. The study also demonstrated that the labelled manufacturers' noise reduction ratings substantially overestimated the actual field attenuation performance.
Descriptors (primary) hearing protection; sound attenuation; evaluation of equipment
Descriptors (secondary) earplugs; earmuffs; comparative study; statistical evaluation; field tests
Document type D - Periodical articles
Country / State or ProvinceUSA
Subject(s) Personal protection
Broad subject area(s) Physical hazards
Browse category(ies) Noise
Hearing protection