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Disposable Ear Protection – Environmental Impact Issues
We respect all the manufacturers of such equipment and professionally join in the need to make premium products that work while minimizing the complications they can cause the environment.
Information
We invite your participation and input towards the following observations. This year was an extremely busy year for E.A.R.Inc. engaging with 100’s of industrial and recreational accounts worldwide. During this time we began to hear a lot about the problems related to disposable ear protectors. Communications with safety officers, end users, industrial hygienists, etc. all agreed….YES….there is a place for disposable ear protection but not all over the ground!
With that in mind we took note and paid more attention to what we were being told and observed the following:
a. Signs were posted at some....but not all locations....to dispose of ear protection properly
It cannot be any more clear than this!
b. However, this is what we were seeing over and over again!
These photos were not improvised and were taken as we actually saw them on the ground. We even have seen them in ponds and in water. Hover over each image or tap on it (mobile devices) to see the location.
Major Oil Company
Outside a Military Museum - The Air Force said additional costs are incurred when foam plugs are sucked into ventilation systems
On a training room floor at a glass plant
At a filling station with convenience store
Near an airport! Paper wrappers for the plugs were also on the ground!
Shooting range
And YES....even outside the ELVIS PRESLEY mansion in Memphis, Tennessee. This one was difficult to believe! We don't think Elvis would put up with this!
c. Then we were told about fit issues with products designed as “ONE SIZE FITS ALL”
Numerous companies use disposables but don’t pay attention to the continuous need for ongoing education regarding fit issues. There are numerous choices for hearing protection on the market, but the style that repeatedly demonstrates the different sizes we see in ears are “CUSTOM FIT! (See below!)
PROOF ears come in all sizes and shapes!
Molds for radical mastoid cavity! This client could not use a foam ear plug that properly sealed his ear.
d. And finally, the ongoing expense related to disposables.
Delegates from both industrial and military sectors of the market told us that it was critical to examine costs……not only for usage……but also for cleaning them up. One delegate said it would be interesting to know….if it cost 10 cents to clean up each set of disposable plugs found on the ground……HOW MUCH would it cost to take care of this matter WORLDWIDE? He estimated the number could exceed a BILLION dollars if not more. Your guess is as good as mine. We also recommend you examine the savings a permanent, properly fit product can provide. (Custom or Generic)
In conclusion, E.A.R., Inc. (www.earinc.com) hopes this observation is useful to your understanding about the choice and use of ear protection. There are literally 100’s of good choices that will meet the requirements of your company and possibly help eliminate ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT issues. E.A.R. Inc. has designed several choices, both generic and custom fit, electronic and non-electronic, filtered and non-filtered.
We respect all the manufacturers of such equipment and professionally join in the need to make premium products that work while minimizing the complications they can cause the environment. Don’t you agree?
For more Information, call 1-800-525-2690 or e-mail [email protected].
Websites that will assist you: www.earinc.com, www.heardefenders.com, www.earplugz-pc.com,
www.freefitcheck.com!
This article was first published in 2014. See our most recent report on the environmental impact of ear protection
