⏱️ Estimated reading time: 11 min
Key Takeaways
The best earplugs for factory work match the measured noise of your line, stay comfortable enough to keep in for the whole shift, and are fitted properly. A plug you were shown how to insert usually protects far better than a higher-rated plug pushed in by guesswork.
Yes, above 85 dB(A) daily exposure or a 137 dB(C) peak, where wearing it is compulsory inside marked hearing protection zones. From 80 dB(A) or a 135 dB(C) peak, your employer must make protection available to anyone who asks.
HSE puts packaging and wrapping lines at 85–95 dB(A) and glass bottling lines at 85–100 dB(A). Press shops often run above 90 dB(A), and saws or cutting machinery can reach 107 dB(A).
An SNR 24 earplug sits inside HSE’s SNR 20–30 band for 90–95 dB(A). At 95–100 dB(A) HSE suggests SNR 25–35, so the noise assessment decides, and above 100 dB(A) earplugs go under ear defenders.
The same earplug gives very different protection depending on how it is inserted. In one lab study, a single in-person demonstration roughly doubled the protection people actually got, while the untrained group barely changed.
Yes, if they are comfortable and clean. Take them out only once you have left the noisy area, and wash reusable plugs between shifts.
Choosing earplugs for factory work comes down to one test. Will they still be in your ears at hour eleven? On some lines the noise sits between 90 and 100 dB(A) as a baseline, and HSE’s hearing loss statistics estimate that around 15,000 workers in Great Britain have hearing problems caused or made worse by work each year.
The usual failure isn’t a low rating. It’s foam pressure that builds until people pull their plugs out before break, and that gap in wear time costs more protection than most people expect.
At Bollsen, we are a hearing protection company trusted by 1,000,000+ people, and we make WorkPRO, a reusable earplug built for long shifts. Which earplugs for work suit a production line depends on the noise of your process, UK law and how well the plugs are fitted. Trade-by-trade advice and HSE thresholds sit together in our hub of earplugs for work, covering every workplace we currently write about.
How loud is a factory production line?
A factory production line typically runs at 85–95 dB(A), with glass bottling reaching 100 dB(A) and saws and cutting machinery up to 107 dB(A). Most of that is continuous noise from conveyors, compressed air and product striking product, so it adds up over a long shift.
HSE’s food and drink manufacturing guidance lists packaging, wrapping and pneumatic noise at 85–95 dB(A) each. CNC machining varies most. One industrial study measured about 71–80 dB(A) at the operator position on light work, rising to around 92 dB on deep cuts.
| Line or process | Typical level | HSE suggested SNR |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging and wrapping line | 85–95 dB(A) | 20 or less (85–90); 20–30 (90–95) |
| CNC machining | About 71–92 dB, depends on the cut | Not compulsory below 85; 20 or less (85–90); 20–30 (90–95) |
| Press shop | 90+ dB(A), mostly low-frequency | HSE’s SNR table doesn’t apply; the employer’s noise assessment decides |
| Glass bottling line | 85–100 dB(A) | 20 or less (85–90); 20–30 (90–95); 25–35 (95–100) |
Levels from HSE guidance and case studies, plus one machining study for CNC. Your site’s noise assessment always overrides a typical figure. For hand-held and workshop tools, see our chart of how loud are power tools (decibel chart), which lists levels tool by tool.
What does UK law require on the line?
Under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, employers must assess noise and offer hearing protection from 80 dB(A) or a 135 dB(C) peak. From 85 dB(A) or 137 dB(C), protection must be worn, and the exposure limit of 87 dB(A) or 140 dB(C) is counted with the protection in.
Above 85 dB(A), the noisy part of the line becomes a marked zone, and the rules on hearing protection zones and signage decide where plugs must go in. Health surveillance follows for people regularly exposed at that level. Earplugs are still the last resort. In one HSE case study, enclosing a bottling conveyor cut the noise by about 5 dB, and job rotation or a quiet noise refuge shortens the dose.
Why do earplugs come out before the shift ends?
Earplugs usually come out because they hurt. Foam plugs press outward against the ear canal, heat and sweat make it worse, and by mid-shift many people take them out between tasks.
HSE is blunt about the cost. Protection should be worn all the time in a noisy area, because removing it for only a few minutes considerably lowers the protection over the day. Foam still suits plenty of people, and the trade-offs between reusable vs foam vs banded earplugs for work are mostly about comfort and wear time.
Does fit training change how much protection you get?
Yes, by a wide margin. In one lab study (Samelli et al., 2025), 52 adults new to earplugs were tested before and after instruction. A single in-person demonstration raised the protection they actually got from 15.5 dB to 31.0 dB, roughly double, while the group given no instruction moved only from 20.5 to 21.9 dB.
A Cochrane review points the same way. Across two trials, earplugs fitted after instruction gave about 8.6 dB more attenuation than earplugs fitted without it (moderate-quality evidence).
So a comfortable plug keeps protection in place for longer, but it doesn’t replace being shown how to fit it. Every new starter should learn how to put earplugs in and check the fit before their first shift on the line, and HSE expects employers to give that instruction.
Can you wear earplugs comfortably for a 12-hour shift?
Most people can wear reusable silicone earplugs for an 8–12-hour shift if the size suits their ears and the plugs are kept clean. Soft silicone flanges seal without the constant outward push of foam, which is what drives most mid-shift removal.
Wearing earplugs all day at work is normal on a production line, whether you’re on days or a night shift. Take them out only once you’ve left the zone, and use breaks to let your ears rest away from the noise.
Good earplug hygiene at work matters just as much over a long rota. Wash reusable plugs between shifts, let them dry, and keep them in a case rather than a pocket. If your ears feel sore or itchy after shifts, speak to your occupational health team or GP.
Is SNR 24 enough for your line?
An SNR 24 earplug sits inside HSE’s SNR 20–30 band for 90–95 dB(A), which covers many packaging and bottling lines. At 85–90 dB(A) HSE suggests SNR 20 or less, and at 95–100 dB(A) it suggests SNR 25–35, so the noise assessment decides there.
HSE’s hearing protection guidance aims for below 85 dB at the ear and warns against going under 70 dB. Over-protected people feel cut off and take their plugs out, so the biggest number on the box isn’t the goal.
Press shops are the exception. HSE says its SNR table isn’t suitable for presses because the noise is mostly low-frequency, where passive plugs reduce the least, so the employer’s assessment decides. Above 100 dB(A), earplugs go under ear defenders.
How does WorkPRO hold up over a full factory shift?
WorkPRO is our passive, reusable work earplug, rated SNR 24 dB (H 24 / M 21 / L 19) to EN 352-2 and made from hypoallergenic 2-lamella silicone that you wash between shifts. Its attenuation rises with frequency, so it reduces high-pitched machine noise more than low rumble.
The yellow colourway lets a line supervisor see at a glance whether plugs are in, and the low profile lets ear defenders fit over the top. WorkPRO is German-tested, independently certified 24 dB hearing protection.
For packaging, bottling and CNC work measured at about 90–95 dB(A), our WorkPRO earplugs (SNR 24 dB, £29.95) come with a 40-day money-back guarantee, so you can try them on a real shift.
WorkPRO is one control in an employer’s noise plan, never the way to comply on its own. Noise control at source and the site assessment come first under the 2005 Regulations.
Which other trades and shift patterns have their own guide?
Building sites bring breakers, cut-off saws and nail guns rather than conveyors. Our guide to earplugs for construction workers matches site tasks to HSE bands and explains when plugs go under ear defenders.
Night shifts bring a second noise problem once you get home and try to sleep through daytime traffic. Our guide to earplugs for sleeping after a night shift covers daytime sleep, blackout and the plugs suited to a pillow.
Where can a production manager order earplugs for a team?
This article is the guide, and bulk orders for production teams run through a separate business page. Production and HSE managers equipping a whole shift can order WorkPRO for production teams (bulk orders) there, which handles team quantities rather than single pairs.
Pick earplugs by the measured level of your line, then make sure they’re comfortable enough to stay in and fitted the way you were shown. If WorkPRO suits your process, try it on a full shift with our 40-day money-back guarantee.
His connection to hearing protection stems from personal experience with sound sensitivity during live events and work in noisy environments, an issue that made him more aware of the long-term risks of unmanaged noise exposure. Today, as both a communicator and a user of BOLLSEN products, he is passionate about raising awareness around the importance of proactive hearing care.
At BOLLSEN, he develops data-driven marketing campaigns, writes SEO-focused articles, and manages communication channels that connect customers with practical knowledge about hearing protection. His work ensures that BOLLSEN’s message—prioritizing health, performance, and sustainability reaches a global audience in an engaging and trustworthy way.
Passionate about writing since childhood, Timotej combines creativity with a strong analytical approach, continuously testing new ideas in digital marketing, performance advertising, and social media. He believes in learning through innovation and collaboration, balancing leadership with openness to new perspectives.
Beyond his professional role, Timotej is committed to a healthy lifestyle and finds inspiration in fitness, sports, and quality time with friends. His personal passion for well-being aligns with BOLLSEN’s core values, making his work not only a career but also a cause he deeply believes in.