The Truth about Disposable Earplugs….

Disposable earplugs are used widely across noisy work areas and are seen as a cheap solution, but are they really?

Disposable earplugs may cost a small amount and may seem like a cost saving solution in the short term, but in the long term there can be huge costs associated with them.

The PPE budgetary cost of disposable earplugs….

Disposables cannot be worn all day; people tend to wear 3-6 sets a day! This over a year is 720-1440 pairs for a full time employee (excluding holiday 4 weeks).

The health costs of disposable earplugs…..

Health risks to employees could be costly as the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) estimates that around 40% of people who use disposables aren’t fitting them correctly. This 40% do not have the full protection they require and it could be putting them at risk of NIHL (Noise Induced Hearing Loss, or Industrial Deafness).

The potential claims costs of disposable earplugs….

Claims as regards NIHL are on the rise, over the last 5 years the notification of NIHL claims has increased by more than 300% according to the Insurance Times.  We visualise it growing rapidly and if employers want to fully protect themselves from these claims, then appropriate hearing protection should be high on the agenda.

Personally moulded hearing protection such as ProtectHear® earplugs protects the user fully. They have a lifespan of 5 years, making them eco-friendly by reducing landfill. The initial cost outlay may be higher than disposables but the saving over a five year period is staggering. We can show you a payback period within 12-18 months on average, after the money has being saved.

Our cost saving calculator is a great tool to find out how much you can save with ProtectHear® in comparison to disposables.  Find it here and let the numbers do the talking.