Hearing Protection

Wear hearing protection around mowers, trimmers, blowers, chippers, and chainsaws, all of which produce noise loud enough to damage hearing over time. The risk is cumulative and permanent, so protection matters even for shorter exposures. If you have to raise your voice to be heard over equipment, the noise level warrants protection.

Earplugs insert into the ear canal, are compact, and work well under helmets and in tight spaces. Earmuffs cover the whole ear, are easy to put on and take off repeatedly, and can attach to a hard hat. Both protect effectively; the choice comes down to comfort, convenience, and whether they fit with other gear.

NRR (Noise Reduction Rating) indicates how much a device reduces noise exposure under test conditions, with higher numbers meaning more reduction. Real-world reduction depends heavily on correct fit. Use the NRR to compare products, but remember that a properly fitted lower-rated device protects better than a poorly fitted higher-rated one.

Yes. For very loud equipment like chainsaws and chippers, combining earplugs under earmuffs adds protection beyond either alone. This double protection is worthwhile in the highest-noise tasks. For most equipment, a single well-fitted device suffices, but the option exists when noise levels are extreme and exposure is prolonged.

Most foam earplugs must be rolled, inserted, and held while they expand to seal the canal, and a poor insertion drastically reduces protection. Take the time to fit them correctly each use. Reusable molded plugs and earmuffs are more forgiving to fit, which is one reason crews who struggle with foam plugs prefer them.

Yes. Earplugs, earmuffs, and hard-hat-mounted protection are stocked in bulk and crew quantities with volume pricing by quote. Disposable earplugs especially get used in volume, so ordering by the box keeps the crew supplied and removes any excuse to skip protection.