Corded / Banded Earplugs

Equipping your team with disposable ear protection is crucial to adhere to the safety standards that are expected of you as an employer. In fact, disposable ear protection such as corded earplugs, is just one of many pieces of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that ensure your team’s wellbeing.

Here, at Protec Direct, we stock the highest quality branded hearing protection and the highest rated ear plugs from leading suppliers, such as Peltor, Honeywell and Uvex earplugs. Unlike other forms of ear protection, ear buds sit within the ear canal, which can offer greater protection from extreme levels of noise.

There are a number of working environments that require noise reduction ear plugs, such as airports and construction sites. Below, we guide you through the best noise reduction earplugs we offer. We’ll suggest how they can sustain the wellbeing of your team, and uphold legal safety requirements.

The range of corded and banded earplugs available from Protec Direct

We offer a full scope of corded earplugs for noise reduction. So, whether you work in engineering, food production or plumbing, we have the protective equipment to help you care for your employees.

Ear protection and the law

Based on the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, employers are expected to provide sound cancelling ear plugs for all employees if they’re in an environment with 85 decibels (dB) of daily or weekly exposure. If you’re unsure about the level of volume in your workplace, use the HSE noise exposure calculator to find out how much noise your workplace generates.

Employees must also be fully trained on how to use their ear protection correctly and safely, and know when it must be worn. Hearing Protection Zones in the workplace should also be clearly identified, wherein the use of banded hearing protection is absolutely necessary to avoid injury.

How do I choose the best ear protection?

There are a number of considerations to make when buying the right ear plugs for your workplace. These are as follows:

• Ensure that the ear protection you have chosen will reduce noise to below 85dB to guarantee the individual’s safety. For example, the UVEX Whisper Corded Ear plugs can be used for noise levels up to 100dB.
• • For a working environment that’s physically demanding, with a lot of manual labour being undertaken, then opt for banded earplugs that are stable yet lightweight. The UVEX X-Cap plugs have a secure band, and are ergonomically designed to make positioning easier.
• If the workspace generates dust and debris then a No-Touch pair of earplugs is recommended. These would also suit those wearing protective gloves at work, for example in construction, as the stems make insertion easier. Opting for a hygiene-conscious pair can reduce the chances of ear infection. In this case, the 3M Corded Ear Plugs would also be a good choice, as their dirt-resistant surface provides better hygiene and durability.
• If your employees have to work in low visibility areas, in overnight road construction for example, then highly visible earplugs lower the risk of loss, as well as ensure compliance checks are much easier. Here at Protec Direct, we offer the Laserlite Corded Earplug LL-30E in magenta and yellow, which is perfectly designed for low visibility workspaces.
• If the employee is not within a Hearing Protection Zone, and the need for hearing protection is intermittent, then we suggest plugs that are easy to put on and take off. For example, the 3M Banded Ear plugs are often provided to factory visitors, due to their disposability and convenience.

Browse our complete selection of reusable corded ear plugs for sale below, and don’t forget to take advantage of our free next day delivery, available to all customers who spend over £25. For any further queries, don’t hesitate to contact a member of our team.

Disposable Earplugs

Disposable hearing protection is an essential item of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that is necessary to adhere to the safety standards expected of you as an employer and care for your employees’ wellbeing.Here at Protec Direct, we stock the highest quality commercial ear plugs, from leading brands such as Peltor, Honeywell and Uvex. There are a number of working environments that require effective disposable ear protection, such as motoring and engineering. Below, we guide you through the best ear protection we offer, and how they can serve to protect your team and uphold legal safety requirements.

The range of disposable earplugs available from Protec Direct

From 3M Classic Ear Plugs to Moldex Ear Plugs, we offer a full scope of disposable foam hearing protection at Protec Direct. Whatever the working environment, whether construction or food production, we supply the leading brands in PPE to ensure the safety of your team. We’re proud to assure you that all Protec Direct hearing protection meets the appropriate British and European legislation requirements.

Ear protection and the law

Based on the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, employers are required to provide sound cancelling ear plugs for all employees if they’re in an environment with 85 decibels (dB) of daily or weekly exposure. If you’re unsure about the level of volume in your workplace, use the HSE noise exposure calculator to find out how much noise your workplace generates.

Employees must also be fully trained in how to use their ear protection correctly and safely, and know when it must be worn throughout their working day. It is also required that Hearing Protection Zones in the workplace are clearly marked and identified.

How do I choose the best ear protection?

There are a number of considerations to make when buying the right ear plugs for your workplace. These are as follows:

• Ensure that the ear protection you have chosen will reduce noise to below 85dB to guarantee the individual’s safety.
• Consider the working environment, including how regularly the protection will need to be worn. For example, if worn for a long duration, disposable foam earplugs are recommended. Products like the Moldex 7700 Purafit Foam Ear Plugs have a tapered design and extended length, meaning comprehensive protection that doesn’t sacrifice the wearer’s comfort.
• Think about the other PPE the employee will be wearing. For example, those working near large machinery will also be wearing hard hats or helmets, so cordless earplugs such as the Uvex Ear Plugs would work well.
• It’s advised to take into account the hygiene of the area. If your employees work somewhere that’s often dirty, the dirt resistant surface of the 3M 1100 Ear Plugs will prove useful.

Browse our complete selection of disposable ear plugs for sale below, and don’t forget to take advantage of our free next day delivery, available to all customers who spend over £25. For any further queries, don’t hesitate to contact a member of our team.

FFP1 masks supplied by Protec Direct are suitable for low level dust/oil or water based mists (hand sanding, drilling and cutting). Our range of FFP1 respirators all conform to the EN 149 standard on respiratory protection and filter a minimum of 80% of airborne particles. We stock dust masks from 3M, Respair, Draeger and Moldex.

Disposable FFP2 Dust Masks

If you are looking for FFP2 disposable respirators then you have come to the right place, as here at Protec we stock of a great selection which includes top brands like 3M, Respair, Moldex and Draeger. These masks are vital in helping to keep workers safe when there are harmful particles in the air, and it is actually the law for employers to provide them in some instances. Browse the complete range of FFP2 masks below, or read on to learn more about our disposable respirator range which also includes FFP1and FFP3 masks.

 

What are FFP2 masks?

FFP2 masks are types of respiratory protective equipment (RPE) which provide protection from airborne particles in accordance with official FFP dust mask ratings set out in EN 149. This European Standard ensures that FFP2 graded dust masks can protect against a moderate level of dust as well as solid or liquid aerosols, and ensures that the masks can filter a minimum of 94% of airborne particles. This makes FFP2 dust masks suitable for tasks such as plastering, sanding and carpentry.

In terms of other dust mask ratings, the FFP2 rating is the equivalent to 10x OEL Protection and 10x APF Protection.

 

Standards and Regulations for FFP2 disposable respirators

All of our FFP2 dust masks adhere to the EN149 European Standard which governs the general requirements and proper markings for RPE. There are also regulations which cover employers’ responsibilities for FFP2 dust masks and other respiratory equipment. These include:

• Personal Protection Equipment Regulations (2002) – Employers must provide and maintain PPE to a suitable level and ensure that employees are fully trained on how to use it in the correct manner.
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (2002) – Employers are responsible for protecting employees when they are working in environments which expose them to substances which are hazardous to their health.

Browse the full range of FFP2 disposable dust masks below or use the filters on the left to find exactly what you need. There are many more specialist items in our RPE collection, including respiratory helmets and welding respirators.

Disposable FFP3 Respirators

At Protec, we stock a variety of FFP3 masks to help keep your workers safe.

 

When are FFP3 masks needed?

FFP3 respirator masks are required when workers are exposed to materials such as:

• Higher level fine dust or oil
• Water-based mists
• Hazardous pharmaceutical powders
• Asbestos

At Protec, we sell FFP3 compliant respirators from a range of top brands including Respair, Draeger, Uvex, Moldex and 3M. All of these FFP3 masks filter a minimum of 99% of airborne particles, and are suitable for use in asbestos removal.

 

Regulations and standards for respiratory protection

Employers have a responsibility to protect workers if they are exposed to materials which could be harmful. The legislation and standards you should be aware of are as follows:

• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (2002) - According to these regulations, employers are responsible for protecting workers from being exposed to substances which could be hazardous to their health.
• Personal Protection Equipment Regulations (2002) - These regulations state that PPE equipment must be monitored to ensure it is fit for purpose, as well as being properly stored and maintained. Employees must also be trained on how to use it.
• EN 149 - This European standard lays out the general requirements and markings required for respiratory protection equipment to be fit for purpose.

 

At Protec, you can rest assured that all our FFP3 respirators comply with relevant European and British legislation, including the EN 149 standard. Browse our range of disposable respirator masks below, and make sure you’re equipped to meet the safety standards required.

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.

Moldex Respiratory Filters from Protec Direct. Protec Direct stock a full range of Moldex filters, including particulate and gas filters. If you're looking for our full range of Moldex products, please use the brand page. All Moldex respiratory filters supplied by Protec Direct conform to the appropriate British and European legislation requirements.

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.