Auditory communication and situational awareness with hearing protective equipment

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In many occupational settings, workers are exposed to high-level noises which adversely impact on both hearing health and job safety. While engineering control at the source is the preferred noise mitigation method, it is not always feasible to reduce noise to safe levels in some working environments and the use of personal hearing protectors (such as earmuffs and earplugs) often become necessary. Current standards on the selection, fit, and use of hearing protectors focus on the noise reduction that these devices provide to satisfy regulatory limits on the maximum daily exposure. In focus group meetings, however, concerns are often raised by workers about job performance and safety when working in noise with hearing protectors. These issues are especially critical for workers with pre-existing hearing losses and users who are non-native speakers. The main objective of the research program is to contribute to the development of practical tools and methods addressing complex health and safety issues involving auditory communication and situational awareness.