Advantages and disadvantages

Ear muffs Intermittent use Problems related to comfort (heat, pressure, etc.) Reduced losses Simple setup Reduced efficiency in case of glasses, long hair, beard, skull morphology, etc. Ideal in case of infections or ear surgery Increased attenuation Low compatibility with other PPE Customized earplugs Easy setup Regular maintenance Comfort Requires impressions to be taken by a professional Lifetime Good fit Not suitable for infected ears Hygiene (no handling of the portion inserted into the ear canal when the hearing protector is equipped with a handle) Good compatibility with other PPE High initial investment High wearing rate Earplugs to be molded Low investment Hygiene problems during shaping if hands are not clean More suitable fit than preformed earplugs Risk of itching Systematic replacement Not suitable for infected ears Good compatibility with other PPE Instructions for set up must be strictly followed Setting up is complex or impossible for the morphology of some ears No maintenance required Significant production cost over a long term Preformed earplugs Hygiene (no handling of the portion inserted into the ear canal when the hearing protector is equipped with a handle) Regular maintenance Not suitable for infected ears Low investment Risk of itching Washable and reusable Instructions for set up must be strictly followed Good compatibility with other PPE The diameter must be adapted to the size of the ear canal Reduced effectiveness for ear canals with excess hair

Ear Muffs

Ear muffs hearing protection devices that are worn over the head, like headphones.  Some advantages of wearing ear muffs include:

• provide more consistent protection than plugs
• one size fits most heads
• easy to put on and take off
• good for short jobs

The disadvantages of ear muffs:

• heavier than ear plugs
• may be uncomfortable in hot environments
• eyeglass wearers may not get a good seal
• more expensive than other types of HPDs
• resonate (vibrate) at lower sound frequencies (<400 Hz)

If you wear ear muffs, remember that anything that comes between your ear and the ear muff will make them less effective and reduce  your level of protection!   Also, you should choose eyewear with thin temples so they don't interfere with the seal.  Some ear muffs attach to hard hats to form a good seal when wearing a hard hat (right).

Also, when putting on ear muffs, remember to push your hair away from your ears.   Center the ear muffs over your head and make sure the seal is tight. Adjust the headband so the ear muffs are resting comfortably on your head.  The cups should entirely cover your ears. 

Before you put on your earmuffs, it is important to inspect them for cracks, tears or other signs of wear.

The last type of HPDs we'll discuss are canal caps.