Should I Be Using Ear Plugs or Ear Muffs?

The CDC tells us that roughly 27 million workers are exposed to hazardous noise at work annually, with 1 in 9 workers in the U.S. having hearing difficulty. However, hearing protection is one area of PPE that we often see being used in ineffective ways. So, today we are taking a look at the various options for hearing protection to help you discern what kind of hearing PPE is necessary for your purposes. 

First, it is important to understand what OSHA requires of employers in regards to protecting against hearing risks. OSHA standard 1910.95(b) details “permissible noise exposures” in its Table G-16. This table indicates a sound level dBA slow response and the daily duration allowed at that level. It is the responsibility of the employer to first work to limit this risk through environmental and administrative action. But, if noise levels cannot be brought to a safe level with administrative action, proper PPE must be provided.

This is where the ear plug vs. ear muff conversation comes into play. For all settings where employees are exposed to 8 hours (time-weighted average) of 85 decibels or more, hearing protection must be provided and employers must ensure that it is worn. OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.95(i)(3) states that “employees shall be given the opportunity to select their hearing protectors from a variety of suitable hearing protectors provided by the employer.” This means that offering only one hearing protection option does not meet requirements according to OSHA.

Choosing your hearing protection options is first and foremost about the level of protection. If it meets the appropriate level of protection for the situation, then ear plugs and ear muffs can be used interchangeably. One of our trusted hearing protection vendors, Pyramex, also encourages opting for even a slightly higher level of protection than your expected noise level requires, in order to ensure the best possible outcome. 

Ear plugs often come at a lower cost and are frequently a preference of manufacturing and other operations where PPE is largely staying on the premises. The small nature of plugs, whether they are corded or not, makes them easy to lose in all settings. However, in more stationary work they are less likely to be lost or misplaced as many times over the course of a shift. One of the downfalls of some ear plugs is improper use by the wearer. If the plug is not inserted by gently pulling back the ear to open the ear canal, it is likely not providing the proper level of protection. 

Ear muffs are typically a higher price point when compared to an individual pair of plugs. But they are also generally used long-term by an employee, where we may see ear plugs being discarded daily or weekly depending on whether they are reusable or not. Ear muffs can be found in a variety of colors to allow for quick identification, with added electronic features for audio input, and with various fits for added comfort. A downfall of ear muffs is that the bulkier size and heavier weight of ear muffs causes the wearer to experience some added fatigue.

There are also  some settings where the proper selection is not actually an “either/or” but is instead a “both/and.” These situations typically involve very high volume noise hazards requiring added protection. For example, the Venture Gear Muff (PS-VGPM8010C) offered in our online store from Pyramex meets the standard for an NRR 25dB rating on its own. However, when earplugs are added, that rating jumps to NRR 37dB.

So, with all of this in mind, what hearing protection options should you be purchasing for your workplace? For all settings we can say that you must provide more than one option that meets the required level of protection, but beyond that it becomes very specific to your needs. Give us a call at 919-602-2503 or reach out to marketing@safetypackonline.com to talk it over with us!

Resources: 

• CDC, "About Occupational Hearing Loss" (2026): https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/noise/about/index.html
• OSHA Occupational noise exposure: https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.95
• Pyramex resource: https://www.pyramex.com/blogs/blog-post/a-comprehensive-guide-to-eye-and-hearing-protection