FAQs

Ear defenders work by reducing the intensity of sound entering the ear. They create a seal over the ear canal to lower decibel exposure, helping prevent long-term hearing damage.

Most defenders are designed to meet safety standards such as EN 352, offering protection in environments with hazardous noise levels.

They’re classed as PPE and should be provided by employers where noise risks are identified.

View our full hearing protection range for compliant options.

You can buy a wide range of ear defenders directly from SMI!

You’ll find options such as:

Everything can be ordered via the MY-SMI® portal, making it easy to manage stock, deliveries, and reorders all in one place.

Ear defenders are used to protect hearing in noisy environments.

Common industries include construction, utilities, logistics, and manufacturing.

They’re essential for teams working around:

  • Continuous loud operations
  • Power tools and heavy machinery
  • High-risk zones where noise exposure is prolonged

Explore SMI’s full range of hearing protection to find solutions suited to your sector.

Ear protection PPE includes a variety of products designed to reduce harmful noise exposure.

Options in the SMI range include:

Remember, employers have a legal duty to provide suitable PPE under UK regulations.

This depends on the style and certification of the product, but most certified ear defenders reduce noise by 20 to 37 decibels.

On the SMI site, you’ll find options for:

  • Lower-noise environments
  • High-decibel industrial zones
  • Sectors requiring helmet-mounted solutions

You can check individual product specifications for each of our ear defenders to help you choose the right protection level.