Ear Defenders

The appropriate selection of ear defenders is critical to protect employees, and meet legal safety standards.

There are various working environments that require ear protection, such as construction, engineering, motoring and more. All of these locations pose a serious threat to workers’ hearing, and an equally serious demand for the right personal protective equipment (PPE).

The range of ear defenders available from Protec Direct

Our wide range of ear defenders include helmet-mounted, headband and neck ear muffs. We also stock widely accredited protective hearing brands, including Peltor ear defenders. All Protec Direct hearing protection earmuffs conform to the appropriate British and European legislation requirements.

Ear defenders and the Law

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 require employers to eliminate or reduce the associated risks of exposure to loud noise. Regular exposure to noise can lead to extensive, and often permanent, hearing damage. To manage this, the law states that employers have a legal obligation to reduce the noise exposure, and a responsibility to equip employees with personal hearing protection.

To comply with the legal exposure limits, it’s imperative that the noise workers are exposed to, even with the appropriate safety equipment, is not above 87 decibels for daily or weekly exposure.

When providing employees with ear defenders, make sure they are used properly and that any hearing protection safety zones, wherein hearing protection is compulsory, are clearly identified.

How do I choose the correct ear defenders?

When choosing the right ear defenders, you should consider the following:

• The best hearing protection ear muffs are sufficient enough to eliminate the risk of hearing damage, but not so much so that the worker is isolated/can’t hear communication from others. A 3M Peltor WS Headset, for example, has a built-in-level-dependent function, to allow wearers to hear ambient sound, such as conversation, machine sounds and warning signals.
• Consider the role and working environment such as physical activity, comfort and hygiene to select the best safety ear muffs. For example, the 3M Peltor Optime III ear defenders have broad sealing rings in plastic foam for low-contact pressure.
• Compatibility with other protective equipment, such as hard hats, is another important factor. In industries where protective headgear is necessary, such as construction, a helmet-mounted headset is recommended to maximise on-site safety.

Hazards that require ear defenders

Ear defenders should be worn if the noise or sound level of a workplace exceeds 85 decibels. Hearing protectors will reduce the noise exposure level and the risk of hearing loss.

If hearing protection is required, then a complete hearing conservation program should be implemented.

Browse our selection of ear protectors below, and don’t forget to take advantage of our free next day delivery if you spend over £25. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our team.

Safety overglasses are incredibly versatile and will help protect your eyes in a range of situations. These safety overglasses are an important part of Protec Direct's overall personal protective equipment offering. If you already wear safety glasses, or if you have to wear glasses to work, then overglasses, sometimes called "overspecs", will help protect your glasses and your vision from damage. These overglasses can be used in a wide range of applications, from laboratories to manufacturing plants to construction sites. All of the safety overglasses that Protec Direct stock meen the relevant European Standards and are CE approved. This ensures that you get the best protection for your eyes at the very best price. Order today and get free delivery on any order over £25.00.

Buy the best clear protective glasses on the market today - and get free delivery when you spend £25. Our range of clear glasses includes industry leading brands, including both clear Bolle and clear Uvex safety glasses. If you're looking for coloured safety glasses please see our extensive tinted safety glasses section. Clear safety specs are an important part of any PPE setup. Many argue that these clear glasses are the best eye protection money can buy - because they provide safety, comfort and still give you incredibly clear vision. You can order any clear safety glasses today with Protec Direct and get free delivery when you spend £25, with next day delivery also available on most of our products.

Buy tinted safety glasses and get free delivery when you spend £25. These coloured safety glasses are suitable for use in a range of environments, from the laboratory to construction sites to manufacturing plants. All of the tinted specs that we stock are CE approved and provide your eyes with guaranteed protection. Tinted safety glasses are an important part of any PPE kit. We stock coloured glasses with grey lenses, brown lenses, mirror lenses and more. All of the products that you see in this category are avaialble with next day delivery. We stock industry leading brands, including tinted safety glasses from 3M, Uvex and Bolle. Don't forget to also check out our clear safety specs section for more eye protection products.

All Protec Direct safety helmets and hard hats are CE Approved to the relevant European Standards. Protec Direct offers safety helmets and head protection for a variety of industries including construction, roofing and forestry amongst others. Safety helmets can be used in conjunction with face visors and clip-on ear defenders to give you maximum personal protection. Personalise your Helmets and Hard Hats with your company logo - Find out more and enquire here.

Mops, mop heads and mop buckets from Protec Direct. Regularly buying fresh mop heads will lead to better results. The right mop bucket can make the whole task of mopping up much simpler. If you're looking for industrial mops, mop handles or sweepers, you've come to the right place. We stock industry leading brands like Clean Machine, in addition to our own Exclusive Brand products, which provide great value for money.

Protec Direct stock a range of simple disposable dust masks and respirators as part of the respiratory protection range. Whether you are buying a dust mask for painting or dust masks for woodworking, these masks protect the lungs from the bulk of nuisance and offer basic protection. Any order above £25 will qualify for free delivery.

What dust mask do I need?

 

In terms of dust mask ratings, these disposable options offer basic protection at an affordable price and come in boxes of 50. Cheap dust masks are useful for single-use manual tasks that cause a low-level of an atmospheric nuisance, these will not protect from hazardous atmospheric conditions, however. Make sure you select the best dust respirator for the job.

• For low-level respiratory protection from dust or mists typically from hand sanding and cutting - buy FFP1 masks

• For moderate-level respiratory protection which includes harmful chemicals and aerosols - buy FFP2 masks

• For high-level respiratory protection from hazardous materials including asbestos - buy FFP3 masks

Protec Direct also offers full respirator masks and are the best dust masks for beards, available to select from the respiratory protection range. Check out this fact sheet by Breathe Freely to learn more about the importance of a tight-fitting mask.

These disposable masks are supplied by industry leading brands, Moldex and JSP. Disposable dust masks should only be used for one session of working in dust, grab a new dust mask each time you start working again. You can see our range of basic respirator mask types below.

Full Face Respirators & Half Mask Respirators

At Protec Direct we stock an amazing selection of high-quality half mask and full face respirators as part of our full collection of respiratory protective equipment. All of the respirators below are crucial in helping to keep you safe when working in areas with contaminated air. If you are an employer, then by law you may have to provide half mask or full face respirators to employees as part of their PPE – read on below to learn more about these regulations.

 

What are half mask and full face respirators?

Both full face and half mask respirators offer the wearer exceptional levels of protection for workers against air that contains particles and can be used for purifying air which is contaminated. This includes particles such as wood or stone when the materials are being cut, dust, or hazards chemicals and solvents. Both of these types of respirators have their own uses:

• Full face respirators help to provide complete respiratory protection from particles in the air, but also provide protection for the eyes against airborne particles.
• Half mask respirators are less intrusive but still provide complete respiratory protection for the wearer. They can be paired with safety glasses or goggles to offer all the protection of a full face respirator.

 

Who uses half mask and full face respirator masks?

Half mask respirators and full face respirators are used in a wide range of occupations in which the wearer requires protection from the chemicals or particles in the air around them. These include, but are not limited to industries such as carpentry, metal work, masonry, painting and decorating, chemical and laboratories, janitorial, property renovations, and the arts and creative industries.

 

Regulations and Standards for half and full mask respirators

All of the respiratory PPE available online at Protec Direct conform to the relevant European Standards. These include:

• EN136 – This European Standard defines a full face respiratory mask as one which covers the chin, eyes, nose and mouth.
• EN140 – This European Standard covers the technical specifications for half and quarter face mask. It defines a half face respiratory mask as one which covers the mouth, nose and chin.
• EN143 – This European Standard covers particle filters used in respiratory masks and ensures they are classified according to their filtering efficiency. It splits filters into three categories – P1, P2, and P3.

There are also a number of regulations which govern respirators and PPE at work and set out an employers’ responsibilities, such as:

• Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations (1992) – It is essential for employers to ensure safe systems of work so the need for PPE is minimised, but where PPE is necessary it should be provided and always be fit for purpose. The PPE should be maintained and checked regularly and employees should be trained on how to correctly use it.

Browse the full collection of full and half face respirator mass below and find the suitable items for you and your employees. Or, browse many other specialist items such as FFP3 disposable respirators and welding respirators in our full RPE collection.

Respiratory accessories from Protec Direct. A wide range of respiratory accessories as part of the overall Respiratory protection product range. All Protec Direct respiratory masks conform to the appropriate British and European legislation requirements.

If you're looking for traffic cones or yellow safety cones, look no further than Protec Direct. We have a variety of traffic cones for sale, including two-part Dominator cones in a range of sizes. We also offer yellow 'slippery surface' hazard warning cones, which are ideal for ensuring workplace safety. Order by 5pm, and your purchases can be delivered the very next day. 

At Protec Direct, we offer a wide selection of road barriers and safety barriers. Our range includes brightly coloured plastic barriers which are ideal for sealing off roadworks, as well as robust and convenient stackable traffic separators. We also offer effective crowd control solutions including metal crowd barriers, retractable belt barriers and mesh barrier fencing. Next day delivery is available for orders placed by 5pm.

Our Winter Essentials have been created to keep you moving on cold days, whether it’s on the road or on site, we have you covered. With a wide range of products to help you beat the weather, including snow shovels, ice scrapers and de-icer spray. We also offer a selection of cold weather clothing and PPE. We have industry leading brands in Workwear like Regatta, Helly Hansen and Protec's own brand value Exclusive Brand. You can also use our custom branding service to create logo branded fleeces, jackets and other corporate clothing, just call 0870 333 3081 for more info. Order by 5pm, and your order can be delivered the next day. Next day delivery applies to selected items only.

Access control and site security products. Protec stock a variety of access control products, many of which are suitable for construction site security. This includes van storage bins, physical access control devices and security fencing. Access control is crucial in the construction industry, it can help you ensure that all of your equipment is safe. Free delivery when you spend £25.