NIOSH Science Policy Update: Individual Fit-Testing Recommendation for Hearing Protection Devices [2025]

Details

• Journal Article:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Corporate Authors:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Description:
  This National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) policy update for determining the attenuation of hearing protection devices "Individual Fit-Testing Recommendation for Hearing Protection Devices" supersedes the hearing protector derating guidance contained in Chapter 1 (Section 1.5) and Chapter 6 of NIOSH's 1998 Criteria for a Recommended Standard - Occupational Noise Exposure. The 1998 criteria document stated that "ideally, workers should be individually fit tested for hearing protectors." Given the lack of commercially available fit-test systems at the time, the 1998 NIOSH criteria document recommended a variable derating of the labeled Noise Reduction Rating to estimate worker protection. As fit-test systems are now readily available, this NIOSH Science Policy Update recommends employers use individual, quantitative fit testing to evaluate the attenuation received by workers from their hearing protection devices. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Ear Ear Protective Devices Hearing Hearing Loss Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced Noise Noise, Occupational Occupational Diseases Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Safety

  More +
• Keywords:
  Hearing protection; Noise exposure; Fit testing; Sound attenuation; Hearing loss prevention
• Source:
  Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2025-104, 2025 Jan; :1-2
• Series:
  NIOSH Numbered Publications
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2025104
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Guidance
• Place as Subject:
  Chicago Region [OSHA] ; Ohio
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DFSE - Division of Field Studies and Engineering
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  2 pdf pages
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20070452
• Citation:
  NIOSH [2025]. NIOSH Science Policy Update: Individual Fit-Testing Recommendation for Hearing Protection Devices. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH), Publication No. 2025-104, DOI: https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2025104
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2025
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Guidelines and Recommendations
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:a604c48d647777e74a46230d150ea751806687b14afae456f633bde4e6380e05039c4b26cecad1fc46200a9f40aa24684ac00c8784e1aa5434da74d904361e70
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/175918/cdc_175918_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 175.74 KB ]