Though most companies are committed to employee Hearing Conservation Programs, many still struggle to obtain a true assessment of the specific effectiveness of their efforts and of the individual hearing protection products they deploy on a worker by worker basis.

A new free case study, "Nucor Provides Measurable Worker Hearing Protection with Howard Leight Technology" details how Nucor Steel is using new state of the art VeriPRO® earplug fit testing technology from Howard Leight® to evaluate whether each individual employee is receiving optimal on the job hearing protection.

Mr Randy Cooper, site manager of safety, health, and security at Nucor Corporation complex in Huger said that "You could look at an earplug and the NRR rating on it but you weren't actually sure which earplug gave the best protection for a specific individual. There was never a way to actually measure the fit and ultimately workers risk hearing loss while companies risked monetary damages and potential regulatory citations."

VeriPRO measures attenuation of earplugs by having the user balance tones presented to each ear at easily heard levels. This means there is no need for a sound booth or quiet room. Accurate VeriPRO earplug fit testing can even be administered in moderate background noise.

At Nucor, the reportable Personal Attenuation Rating measurements, provided by VeriPRO aid managers with the transition to the EPA's recent Noise Reduction Rating change from a fixed number to a range.

In addition, the VeriPRO earplug fit testing system also lets Nucor managers determine whether employees are receiving optimal protection, require additional training on earplug fit testing, or should try a different model.