3M's Hearing Protection Test is Fit For Purpose

8 July 2024

In the buzzing world of construction, noise-induced hearing loss poses a significant risk. According to Hearing Australia, 98% of accepted worker's compensation claims for deafness in 2020-21 were due to long-term noise exposure.

Helping You Make Sound Decisions for Worker Safety

The dynamic nature of construction sites, coupled with a constantly changing workforce, makes a consistent approach to hearing safety measures complex.

Traditionally, standard hearing protection tests in Australia adhere to the AS/NZS 1270-2002 standard. This evaluated the average noise reduction (attenuation) for a general group, which inevitably means that around 20% of workers may have inadequate protection.

A Personalised Fit-Test

Recognising the critical need for effective hearing protection, 3M's Personal Safety Division has been a pioneer in the hearing health space with their innovative E-A-Rfit™ Dual Validation System.

This system is a significant leap forward in hearing protection tech that replaces the one-size-fits-all approach. It provides a personalised assessment of each worker's hearing protection equipment in under 5 seconds.

Julie Toseski, an Occupational Hygienist and Application Engineer Specialist at 3M explains, “It quantitatively measures the noise reduction provided by a 3M hearing protector when worn by an individual worker. This not only ensures that the protection is adequate but also provides immediate,valuable insights into the level of attenuation the worker is achieving.”

3M™ E-A-RFIT™ Dual Validation System Features

Tests both ears simultaneously in less than 5 seconds
Earmuff and earplug testing capabilities
Tests at 7 standard frequencies - 125Hz to 8000Hz
Science-based, objective, quantitative testing
Compliant with ANSI/ASA S12.71-2018
Provides documented results

The 3M™ E-A-Rfit™ Dual Validation System is part of 3M’s broader commitment to elevating workplace safety standards through science and education. And the results speak for themselves.

Mitch Thompson, an Occupational Hygienist from the Hypex Group notes, “Rather than just using visual inspection to ensure hearing protection is fitted correctly, the E-A-Rfit™ system allows us to put a number to it, making it tangible not only for the worker but also management. After using the E-A-Rfit™ system once, we saw its benefits and have been advocating strongly for our clients to adopt hearing protection fit-testing as part of their hearing conservation programs.”