What does an individual’s Personal Hearing Protector fit-testing ensure?

An individual’s Personal Hearing Protector fit-testing is conducted primarily to ensure that the device forms an adequate seal against external noise. This is crucial because the effectiveness of hearing protection is largely dependent on it creating a good seal around the ear, which minimizes the amount of hazardous noise that can penetrate the protector. If the seal is compromised, even the best hearing protector cannot provide the necessary noise reduction, which defeats its purpose.

While comfort, matching the user's hearing level, and ease of use are important factors in the selection and utilization of hearing protectors, they do not specifically determine whether the device can effectively block hazardous noise. A hearing protector could be comfortable and easy to use, but without the proper fit that ensures an adequate seal, it would not fulfill its primary role in protecting hearing.