Hearing protection

Earmuffs vs earplugs: which hearing protection suits your site?

Compare earmuffs vs earplugs for Australian workplaces. Classes, fit, hygiene and when to use both. Practical guide for supervisors and safety officers.

By the Star Safety Supplies team 8 min read

Yellow earmuffs and banded earplugs on a steel workbench beside a wall mounted jar of orange foam earplugs

Key points

  • Earplugs sit inside the ear canal and earmuffs seal around the outer ear, and both only protect when they fit and are worn for the whole time the noise is present.
  • Earplugs tend to be more comfortable for long shifts in heat, while earmuffs are easier to fit correctly and suit work with dirty hands.
  • Hearing protectors listed against AS/NZS 1270 carry a class from 1 to 5, and a higher class means more attenuation, so match the class to the measured noise.
  • Hearing protection backs up quieter equipment and work methods, and very high noise can call for earplugs and earmuffs worn together.

The question of earmuffs vs earplugs comes up wherever a crew works in hazardous noise. This guide compares the two types side by side, explains the class system used in Australia and covers fitting, hygiene and the situations where both are worn together.

Hearing protection is used after quieter plant, isolation and work methods have been applied, not instead of them.

How do earplugs and earmuffs work?

Earmuffs use a hollow cup lined with sound absorbent foam, a soft ring shaped cushion that seals around the ear, and a spring tensioned headband that holds the cups in place with a set clamping force. Earplugs are inserted into the ear canal, deep enough to block it off and stay in by themselves. Expandable foam plugs are rolled and inserted, pre-moulded reusable plugs are often made of silicone and can be washed, and custom moulded plugs are made to the wearer's ear canal. Ear canal caps and semi-insert plugs on a band seal the entrance of the ear canal rather than going in. An example is the Howard Leight VeriShield VS110 Passive Earmuffs.

How do earmuffs vs earplugs compare on site?

The table compares the two types on practical points for site work.

Factor Earplugs Earmuffs
Comfort in heat Tend to be more comfortable for long periods, particularly in hot or humid conditions Can be uncomfortable in hot environments, and headband weight and clamping force can tire the wearer over long periods
Use with glasses or hard hats Sit inside the ear canal, clear of glasses arms and the helmet. Still check the fit with your usual PPE on Glasses and helmets can affect the seal. Fit them with glasses on, or use earmuffs made to attach to the hard hat
Hygiene Need clean hands to insert. Disposable plugs are worn once and reusable plugs can be washed Not inserted into the ear, so they suit dirty work. Keep cushions clean and replace damaged ones
Intermittent noise A disposable plug that comes out is replaced with a fresh pair. Banded semi-insert plugs and canal caps suit short, repeated exposures Easy to fit correctly, so they can go back on each time the noise returns
Fitting skill Protection depends heavily on a good fit. Foam plugs are rolled and inserted deep into the ear canal Fit most people and are easy to fit correctly
Visibility for supervisors A well fitted plug sits mostly hidden behind the front of the ear, so spot checks need a close look Sit over the outside of the ears, so they are easy to see during spot checks

Removing either type, even for short periods, significantly reduces the protection. The type a worker will keep on for the whole exposure is usually the right one, so involve workers in the choice.

What do the classes on hearing protectors mean?

Products listed against AS/NZS 1270 show a class and an SLC80 value, usually on the packaging or on the protector. The workplace noise exposure standard is an 8 hour average of 85 dB(A) and a peak of 140 dB(C). WorkSafe Victoria and WorkSafe Queensland guidance links each class to a worker's measured 8 hour noise exposure. A higher class means more attenuation. More is not always better: a protector that blocks too much sound makes it hard to hear instructions and warning signals, so match the class to the measured exposure. WorkSafe Queensland notes that the US NRR rating is not accepted in Australia because its test method differs from the AS/NZS 1270 method.

Class 8 hour noise exposure in dB(A) SLC80 range
1 Less than 90 10 to 13
2 90 to less than 95 14 to 17
3 95 to less than 100 18 to 21
4 100 to less than 105 22 to 25
5 105 to less than 110 26 or greater

Safe Work Australia's noise code gives an example: a hearing protector worn for a full eight hour day gives its 30 dB maximum protection, but one hour without it drops the protection to 9 dB.

When should you wear earplugs and earmuffs together?

WorkSafe Victoria advises that where a very high level of protection is needed, earplugs and earmuffs can be worn together. The combined reduction is not the sum of the two ratings: WorkSafe Victoria gives about 5 dB more than the higher rated protector as a general guide, and the manufacturer may have combined figures. WorkSafe Queensland notes that some impulsive noise, for example nail guns, pressure vessel manufacture or drop forging, may need both. Get the noise measured and follow the manufacturer information.

How do you fit foam earplugs properly?

WorkSafe Queensland lists these steps for foam earplugs:

  1. Clean hands first (dirt on the plug can cause ear infections).
  2. Roll the plug between thumb and index finger into a tight, crease free cylinder.
  3. Reach an arm over your head and pull the outer ear up and out to straighten the canal.
  4. Insert the plug well into the ear canal.
  5. Hold a finger on it for about 10 to 20 seconds while it expands.
  6. Use the right hand for the right ear and the left hand for the left ear.

From the front, a well fitted plug sits mostly hidden behind the small bump at the front of the ear (the tragus). If it sticks out, it is not deep enough. Remove it with a gentle twist rather than a straight pull. Foam earplugs in our range include the Portwest PU Foam Ear Plugs EP02ORR.

How do you get a good seal with earmuffs?

Honeywell's fitting instructions say the cups should cover each ear completely and sit straight, the cushions should seal firmly against the head, and hair should be moved out from under the cushions. Safe Work Australia notes that hard hats, dust masks and eye protection can affect the performance of a hearing protector, so check the fit while wearing your usual work equipment, and fit workers who wear glasses with their glasses on. Do not modify earmuffs.

Can you fit earmuffs to a hard hat?

Safe Work Australia notes earmuffs can make it difficult to wear a helmet. Options from WorkSafe Queensland include earmuffs that attach directly to the safety helmet, or headband earmuffs worn with the band behind the neck or under the chin with a head strap holding them in place. Helmet mounted earmuffs attach through adapters that slide into slots on the side of the hard hat (Honeywell instructions). Check with the manufacturer information that the earmuff suits the hard hat you use. Honeywell also warns not to pull the hard hat off while helmet earmuffs are clicked into place on the ears. Our range includes helmet mounted earmuffs such as the Howard Leight VeriShield VS110H Passive Helmet Earmuff.

How do you clean and replace hearing protectors?

Safe Work Australia advises inspecting hearing protectors regularly and keeping them in good, clean condition. Check that earmuff seals are undamaged, headband tension has not dropped, there are no unofficial modifications, and compressible earplugs are soft, pliable and clean. Reusable earplugs can be washed. Honeywell recommends cleaning earcups and cushions with mild soap and water without dipping them in water, and discarding earmuffs with visibly damaged cups. Earmuff hygiene kits, such as the Maxisafe Earmuff Hygiene Kit HRE715, are made for specific earmuff models, so match the kit to the earmuff. Follow the manufacturer instructions for replacement.

Which should you buy for your team?

Involve workers in the choice and offer a reasonable range to try. A comfortable protector worn the whole time does better than a higher class one that keeps coming off. Safe Work Australia's code also recommends signposting areas where people may be exposed to hazardous noise as hearing protector areas. Order through the trade buying page, enter SKUs and quantities or import a CSV with quick order by SKU, or list products, quantities and a required-by date in a request a quote form.

Frequently asked questions

Are earplugs or earmuffs better?

Neither type is better in general. The right choice is the one that suits the task, fits the worker and is worn the whole time the noise is present.

Can you wear earplugs and earmuffs together?

Yes, where a very high level of protection is needed. The combined reduction is not the sum of the two ratings, so check the manufacturer information.

Can you wear earmuffs with safety glasses?

Yes. Fit and check them with the glasses on, because the glasses arms can affect the seal. Safe Work Australia advises fitting hearing protectors to workers who wear spectacles while they are wearing them.

How often should earplugs be replaced?

Disposable ones are worn once. Reusable ones are replaced when damaged or no longer soft, pliable and clean. Follow the manufacturer instructions. There is no single time interval that suits every product.

What does Class 5 mean on hearing protection?

Class 5 is the top class in the classification method, with an SLC80 of 26 or greater, matched to an 8 hour exposure of 105 to less than 110 dB(A). More attenuation is not always better because of overprotection.

For help choosing hearing protection for your crew, call 1300 078 277 or visit our contact page.

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Sources

This guide is general information for Australian workplaces. It is not legal advice. Requirements differ between states and territories and change over time, so check the current guidance of your regulator and the standard itself before relying on it.

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