Ear Plugs

About Ear Plugs

Ear plugs are essential personal protective equipment (PPE) designed to reduce harmful noise levels in industrial, construction and workshop environments. Whether you're working with power tools on a building site, operating machinery in a factory, or carrying out noisy DIY tasks at home, quality ear plugs provide crucial protection against hearing damage whilst allowing you to maintain awareness of your surroundings. With prolonged exposure to noise levels above 85 decibels, permanent hearing loss can occur, making proper hearing protection not just a legal requirement under HSE regulations but a vital investment in your long-term health.

Our comprehensive range includes disposable foam ear plugs ideal for short-term use, reusable corded options for convenience and cost-effectiveness, and specialised detectable variants for food industry applications. Available from trusted brands including Moldex, Portwest, Scan and Milwaukee, our ear plugs offer various noise reduction ratings (SNR) to suit different working environments. From individual pairs to bulk dispensers and refill stations, we stock solutions for sole traders, large site teams, and health and safety managers looking to maintain compliant, well-stocked first aid and PPE provisions.

Modern ear plugs combine high-performance noise attenuation with all-day comfort, featuring soft foam or thermoplastic rubber (TPR) materials that conform to your ear canal. Whether you need corded plugs to keep them safely around your neck between uses, banded ear buds for quick on-off convenience, or colour-coded detectable options for food manufacturing facilities, you'll find professional-grade hearing protection designed for the demands of British tradespeople and industry.

Jargon Buster

• SNR (Single Number Rating): The overall noise reduction level measured in decibels (dB) that the ear plugs provide. A higher SNR means greater noise reduction – typical values range from 25dB to 37dB for quality ear plugs.
• Corded Ear Plugs: Ear plugs connected by a cord or string, preventing loss when removed and allowing them to hang safely around your neck during breaks in noisy work.
• Banded Ear Plugs: Ear plugs attached to a flexible headband that sits under the chin or behind the neck, offering quick on-off convenience for intermittent noise exposure.
• PU Foam: Polyurethane foam – a soft, compressible material used in disposable ear plugs that expands slowly to form a comfortable, effective seal in the ear canal.
• Detectable Ear Plugs: Specially designed ear plugs containing metal particles and produced in bright colours (typically blue) for the food industry, making them easy to spot visually and detectable by metal detection equipment if lost during production.
• Reusable Ear Plugs: Durable ear plugs made from washable materials like TPR or silicone that can be cleaned and used multiple times, offering better value and reduced waste compared to disposable options.

Who Uses Ear Plugs?

Ear plugs are essential PPE across numerous trades and industries where noise exposure exceeds safe levels:

• Construction workers and site managers – protection from heavy machinery, power tools and impact equipment
• Carpenters and joiners – safeguarding hearing during prolonged use of circular saws, routers and planers
• Electricians and sparkies – protection when using drills, grinders and other power equipment
• Factory and warehouse operatives – essential in noisy industrial environments with continuous machinery operation
• Ground workers and landscapers – protection from petrol-powered equipment like chainsaws, strimmers and mowers
• Metal fabricators and welders – defence against grinding, cutting and hammering noise
• Food production workers – detectable ear plugs meeting hygiene and safety standards
• Maintenance engineers – protection during equipment servicing and repairs
• DIY enthusiasts – home workshop users operating noisy power tools
• Health and safety officers – responsible for ensuring adequate hearing protection is available on site

How to Choose the Right Ear Plugs

Noise Reduction Rating: Consider your working environment's typical noise levels. Most industrial settings require ear plugs with an SNR of at least 25-30dB. For extremely loud environments like steel fabrication or demolition work, opt for higher-rated plugs (35dB+) or combine with ear defenders for maximum protection.

Disposable vs Reusable: Disposable foam ear plugs offer hygiene and convenience for occasional use or when supplying large teams, whilst reusable TPR or silicone plugs provide better long-term value for individual tradespeople who need daily protection. Consider dispenser stations and refill tubs for busy sites with multiple workers.

Corded or Uncorded: Corded ear plugs prevent loss and stay readily accessible around your neck – ideal for workers moving between quiet and noisy areas throughout the day. Uncorded versions suit continuous all-day wear in consistently noisy environments. Banded options offer the quickest on-off convenience for intermittent exposure.

Industry-Specific Requirements: Food manufacturing and pharmaceutical facilities require detectable ear plugs that comply with contamination prevention protocols. These bright blue plugs contain metal particles visible to detection systems, preventing foreign object contamination risks.

Comfort and Fit: Ear plugs must seal properly to provide adequate protection. Foam varieties compress before insertion then expand to fit snugly, whilst pre-moulded reusable plugs come in different sizes. Consider bell-shaped or rockets-style designs that many users find more comfortable for extended wear. If standard plugs cause discomfort, specialised foam formulations like Moldex Mellows offer softer alternatives.

Compliance and Standards: Ensure ear plugs meet relevant EN standards and comply with HSE requirements for your industry. PPE should be CE marked and supplied with proper instructions for correct insertion and maintenance.

Popular Accessories

• Ear plug dispensers – wall-mounted stations keeping supplies organised and accessible on busy sites
• Refill tubs and bottles – bulk packaging for cost-effective restocking of high-usage locations
• Ear defenders and ear muffs – supplementary hearing protection for extremely loud environments, or alternatives for those who find in-ear protection uncomfortable
• Safety storage cases – protective carrying cases keeping reusable ear plugs clean between uses
• PPE storage solutions – organised cabinets and stations for managing multiple types of safety equipment
• Communication headsets – integrated hearing protection with radio communication capabilities for site coordination
• First aid and welfare facilities – comprehensive site welfare equipment meeting HSE requirements

Safety Information

Hearing protection is mandatory under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 when workplace noise exposure reaches certain levels. Employers must provide suitable hearing protection where noise exposure exceeds 85dB over an 8-hour period, and ensure its use is mandatory at 87dB or above. Regular noise assessments should be conducted to determine appropriate protection levels required.

Correct insertion is crucial for effectiveness – foam ear plugs must be rolled tightly, inserted whilst pulling the ear upwards and backwards, then held in place whilst they expand fully. Improperly fitted ear plugs may provide less than half their rated protection. Always ensure hands are clean before handling ear plugs to prevent introducing dirt or contaminants into the ear canal.

Disposable ear plugs should be replaced regularly – typically after each use or when they become soiled, hardened or damaged. Reusable ear plugs require cleaning with mild soap and water after each use and should be replaced when they show signs of wear, damage or loss of flexibility. Never share ear plugs between workers due to hygiene concerns.

Whilst ear plugs reduce harmful noise, they must still allow workers to hear warning signals, alarms and communications. Select appropriate noise reduction levels – over-protection can create safety hazards by masking important auditory cues in the working environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What noise reduction rating do I need for building site work?

For typical construction sites with power tools, machinery and impact equipment, ear plugs with an SNR of 25-32dB provide adequate protection for most tasks. Extremely loud activities like concrete breaking, steel cutting or prolonged exposure to petrol-powered equipment may require higher ratings (33-37dB) or dual protection combining ear plugs with ear defenders.

How long do reusable ear plugs last?

With proper care and cleaning, quality reusable ear plugs typically last several weeks to months depending on frequency of use and working conditions. Inspect them regularly and replace when you notice hardening, tearing, loss of flexibility or if they no longer seal comfortably. Heavily soiled working environments may require more frequent replacement than clean workshop settings.

Can I use the same ear plugs every day?

Disposable foam ear plugs are designed for single use and should be replaced after each working day for hygiene and effectiveness reasons. Reusable ear plugs can be used daily provided they're cleaned thoroughly after each use with mild soap and warm water, then allowed to dry completely before storage in a clean container.

Why do food industry ear plugs need to be detectable?

Detectable ear plugs meet food safety requirements by being easily visible (bright blue stands out against most food products) and containing metal particles that trigger metal detection systems if accidentally lost during production. This prevents contamination incidents and helps maintain HACCP compliance in food manufacturing facilities.

Will ear plugs completely block out noise?

No – ear plugs reduce harmful noise levels to safer volumes rather than blocking sound entirely. This is actually a safety feature, as workers still need to hear warning signals, machinery problems, colleague communications and potential hazards. The SNR rating indicates how many decibels the ear plugs reduce – for example, 30dB ear plugs reduce a 100dB environment to approximately 70dB perceived noise level.