In addition to reducing potentially harmful noise, it's important to consider hearing protector features that influence user-friendliness and comfort. Whether workers stay in one area or are in and out of noisy areas throughout a day may impact their choice of a hearing protector. As example, a foam earplug might make sense if it stays in the ear for hours, but cleaning hands and rolling down foam can quickly become inconvenient for those who rotate in and out of noisy areas throughout the workday.

Next, it is important to keep in mind that hearing protectors are rarely worn in isolation. In the real world, hearing protectors are worn in conjunction with safety glasses, hard hats, respirators, and other protective clothing or equipment. Best practice includes having your employees suit up with all of their gear when fitting a hearing protector to cross-check compatibility.

It's often said that the "best" hearing protector is the one the worker wears correctly and in a reliable manner. Both scientific research and real-world experience show when hearing protectors are not comfortable, workers avoid wearing them properly and consistently throughout the workday. Often overlooked, but comfort and convenience are essential considerations when selecting a variety of hearing protectors for a given work area or job.

Learn more about improving comfort and convenience.