Regarding trends related to occupational noise in Japan, the measurement method for the sound attenuation performance of hearing protectors in Japanese industrial standard was revised to corresponding with International Organization for Standardization in 2020, and the guidelines for preventing noise-induced hearing loss in noisy workplaces were revised in 2023. Current guidelines require that the hearing protectors should be selected based on its sound attenuation performance, such as single number rating, when the wearing of hearing protectors is necessary. However, the guidelines do not include any requirements for fit testing of hearing protectors, and there are few fit test devices available for sale in Japan, nor many examples of fit testing in practice. Another domestic manufacturer is currently developing a fit testing method applying a pure tone audiometer used for worker's special health check, but it has not yet been released for sale. In Japan, there are several examples of the use of E-A-Rfit, manufactured by 3M in the United States. The authors have also published test examples with the aim of encouraging fit testing. This paper presents an overview of the current state of fit testing in Japan.
Yokoyama et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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