Can I Wear Ear Defenders With A Hard Hat?

Working in a noisy environment where you also need to protect your head? You can just pop your normal ear defenders over your safety helmet. . . right?

Wrong!

In this article, we’ll explain the problems of pairing headband-style ear defenders with a hard hat - and why an integrated solution is the safe option.

Why might you need ear defenders and a hard hat?

If you work in an environment or role where you need head protection, you should be wearing a hard hat. This includes working at height or in an area with a risk of falling debris.

But on some sites, there will also be a risk from excessively loud noise - in which case, you will need to protect your ears while still wearing your safety helmet.

You could potentially wear ear plugs with a hard hat, but many people don’t insert them correctly, reducing their effectiveness. This is why ear defenders are a more reliable way of protecting your hearing.

Can I wear ear defenders under my hard hat?

Over-the-head or headband-style ear defenders are generally not compatible with safety helmets. This is because of the way they fit - or don’t fit, to be more accurate.

If you wear them under the hard hat, the headband will interfere with the internal harness. The harness is there to make sure there’s a gap between the helmet's outer shell and your head, which dissipates the force of any impact.

If the headband of your ear defenders is filling this gap, any shock experienced by the outer shell would be transferred straight to your head. This might be the impact of a fall from height, or from something heavy striking the helmet.

On top of that, wearing anything bulky under a hard hat means it can't fit securely, and is more likely to shift position or fall off completely. (See our article on the dangers of wearing a beanie or hoodie under a safety helmet).

There is one type of ear defenders you can wear under a hard hat - these are called neckband-style ear defenders. The ear cups are connected by a steel wire band that rests behind the neck, plus a very thin support band over the crown of the head.

What about wearing ear defenders over a helmet?

Nope! This won’t work either. In this scenario, the ear defenders wouldn’t make sufficient contact with your head, so they wouldn’t be able to create a seal and protect you from loud noise.

What’s the solution?

You need one of the following:

• Ear defenders designed to fit onto a hard hat

• A helmet with integrated hearing protection.

In both cases, the ear defender cups attach securely to the helmet with special “mounts” instead of being mounted on a headband.

You can either purchase compatible ear defenders for an existing hard hat, or buy a hard hat with ear protection already in place. Whichever option you go for, you’ll need to choose the right level of noise reduction (the SNR rating).

The trick is to ensure you’re fully protected without reducing the sound level so much that you lose your situational awareness. You can find information on how to get the proper level on our hearing protection page and on the HSE website.

Benefits of helmet-mounted ear defenders

Full protection

Helmet-mounted ear defenders allow you to wear head protection and ear protection at the same time, without compromising the effectiveness of your PPE setup.

Convenience

With your ear defenders attached to your hard hat, you’re less likely to leave one of the items behind! You won’t have to waste time searching for the components, and you can get on with your job with no delays.

Flexibility

You may not require hearing protection for every task or project. These ear defenders swivel and lock against the helmet in the upward position, so they’re out of the way but still accessible when needed.

Who uses hard hats with integrated hearing protection?

There are plenty of roles and industries where helmet-mounted ear defenders are the ideal solution.

Forestry

With chainsaws and brush cutters buzzing all day, wearing hearing protection and head protection is essential for reducing the risk of both head injury and hearing loss.

Construction

Drilling into walls or cutting through concrete all generate massive amounts of noise, as well as the potential for flying debris.

Demolition

Whether you’re taking down a wall with a sledgehammer or using a concrete breaker, you will need to protect your hearing and, of course, the top of your head from falling objects.

Heavy manufacturing

The clang of heavy steel and angle grinders can leave your ears ringing for hours. Choosing an appropriate helmet with ear protection will help protect your ears without interrupting your workflow.

A quick word on compatibility

If you buy a helmet with integrated ear protection, you’ll know that the two components are compatible. But what if you already have a hard hat and you need to add ear defenders? Or you have helmet-mounted ear defenders already but you want to replace your hard hat?

If you’re purchasing the components separately, it’s always best to stick to a single manufacturer or brand - they will have tested the helmet with the accessories in place, in line with current regulations.

Our JSP hard hats have been tested for compatibility with JSP mounted ear defenders - as well as JSP eye protection, respiratory protection, full face visors, helmet liners, and sweatbands.

Closing thoughts

Don’t take the risk of wearing normal ear defenders with a hard hat. This will compromise the performance of both components - and, in the worst-case scenario, it could lead to serious head injury or hearing loss.

Ready to buy a hard hat with integrated hearing protection, or compatible ear defenders for your helmet? Head to our website to find a wide selection of products - and don’t hesitate to contact our friendly sales team if you need more advice.