Hearing Protectors for Use on Firing Ranges - Law Enforcement Standards Program

POLLUTION ASSUMES MANY FORMS. ONE FORM THAT IS SOMETIMES ENCOUNTERED BY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IS EXCESSIVE NOISE ON FIRING RANGES. THOSE VISITING OR USING POLICE FIRING RANGES QUICKLY RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR SOME TYPE OF WEARABLE NOISE - SUPPRESSION DEVICE FOR PROTECTION OF THE AUDITORY SYSTEM. HEARING PROTECTORS FOR USE ON FIRING RANGES IS A DESCRIPTION OF A VOLUNTARY NATIONAL EQUIPMENT STANDARD DEVELOPED BY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARDS LABORATORY OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE AT THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS TO AID LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES IN THE SELECTION AND PROCUREMENT OF QUALITY EAR PROTECTION DEVICES. THE DOCUMENT OUTLINES THE PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THESE PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION METHODS. AFTER DEFINING THE TERMS USED IN THE REPORT, THE AUTHORS DELINEATE THE STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS WHICH HEARING PROTECTORS SHOULD MEET. DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS ARE GIVEN AS TO THE PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED IN TESTING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EAR PLUGS, EAR MUFFS, AND THEIR USE IN COMBINATION. ITEMS SUCH AS THE TESTING ROOM APPARATUS, TEST SUBJECTS, HEARING THRESHOLD MEASUREMENT, AND THE HANDLING OF THE TEST RESULTS ARE COVERED. A BRIEF STATEOF-THE-ART REVIEW OF METHODS FOR EVALUATING HEARING PROTECTORS IS INCLUDED AT THE END OF THE REPORT. (SNI ABSTRACT)