An educated guess on the workplace attenuation variability of ear muffs

The attenuation variability of hearing protector devices plays a primary role in determining compliance, or lack of, with occupational noise exposure limits. This study presents an estimate of the ear muff attenuation variability, which includes several factors (biological diversity, positioning, sound field, ageing) for which specific information from laboratory studies is available. A mean value of the attenuation variability for ear muffs sigma(FR) = 4.8 dB is found. This value is about 65% larger than the typical value measured according to existing test standards. Being marginally smaller than the mean variability resulting from field measurements, and certainly within the wide range of fluctuations of the latter, it represents a robust and reliable quantity for application in any workplace environment.