Earplug articles · Employers
How an employer rolls out hearing protection in a team: a practical process
An employer who wants to give employees earplugs made to measure needs more than an order. You need to know for whom, for what use, how to arrange it, and what to do after the earplugs arrive.
First of all: who decides what
This guide deals with the process of working with a supplier of custom earplugs. It does not deal with the requirements that apply to the workplace, and does not determine what protection is needed at each workstation. Those are checked by the safety officer, the professional consultant or whoever the organisation has appointed for this. Our role starts once the organisation knows what it needs: to prepare for each employee an earplug made from the impression of their ear, for the defined use.
| Stage | What the organisation does | What G-Sound does |
|---|---|---|
| Defining the need | Decides where, for whom and for what use | Asks questions to understand the use |
| Arranging | Appoints a contact person and collects the list of employees | Arranges in advance a date and place for taking the impressions |
| Impressions and preparation | Frees up time for the employees | Comes, takes impressions, prepares and sends the earplugs |
| Follow-up | Collects employees' requests | Checks each request; adjustment, refitting or reordering are checked case by case |
Stage one: mapping — where and when
Start with a simple list: in which departments, workstations or tasks employees need an earplug, and for how long each day. It is also worth noting the conditions: outdoor work, dust, heat, other protective equipment, and work where people need to hear instructions or alerts. This mapping does not need to be a complicated document. It needs to answer the question of how the employee will use the earplug on an ordinary day.
Stage two: dividing into groups
Not all employees need the same thing. A warehouse worker, a technician who moves between sites and an office worker next to a machine hall use an earplug differently. Divide the team into groups by use. If some employees use a hearing aid, note this separately: an earmould for a hearing aid is a different type, and its details are on the page Earmoulds for hearing aids.
Stage three: ready-made or made to measure
A ready-made earplug is available right away and suits some uses, for example occasional use or visitors. A made-to-measure earplug is usually looked into when employees use an earplug regularly, or when ready-made earplugs move, fall out or are uncomfortable for them. Many organisations combine the two: ready-made earplugs for occasional use, and a made-to-measure earplug for those who use one every day. There is no single answer for everyone. Detailed comparison: Ready-made or custom earplug.
Stage four: getting in touch and arranging
When you contact us on behalf of an organisation, we find out three things: the type of activity, the number of participants and the place for taking the impressions. It is worth preparing in advance:
- One contact person who coordinates the request, the arrangements and receiving the delivery.
- A list of the employees who are interested, by the groups from stage two.
- Time windows when employees can step away, especially in a workplace with shifts.
- A quiet place with a chair and good lighting for taking the impressions.
Do not send us sensitive medical information about employees. We will go over the relevant details in conversation.
Stage five: handing out and explaining to employees
An earplug left in a drawer helps no one. When the earplugs arrive, it is worth handing them out personally, making sure each employee received their own earplug, and passing on the instructions for use and storage that come with the earplug. It is also worth telling employees whom to contact if something does not feel right. On storage and cleanliness in general: Care and hygiene of earplugs.
Stage six: follow-up
After a few weeks, it is worth asking employees how the earplug sits and whether they use it. An employee whose earplug is uncomfortable can contact us, and options for adjustment and refitting are checked case by case: What to do if the earplug is uncomfortable. A new employee needs their own impression. For an employee who lost an earplug, in suitable cases it can be ordered from the stored impression: Reordering earplugs.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Ordering one type for everyone without asking how each group works.
- Not mentioning the protective equipment employees already wear.
- Arranging impressions in the middle of a busy shift, without set time for each employee.
- Handing out earplugs without explaining how to look after them and whom to contact.
- Forgetting new employees who join after the first round.
The service is nationwide, by appointment. Details of the process: Taking ear impressions for earplugs.
More questions: Earplugs FAQ · Articles and guides about earplugs
More
All types of earplugs · Earplugs for businesses and employees · Earplugs for factories and industry · Earplugs for construction workers · Noise earplugs for work: what to check
English version: 4 November 2026 · Written by the G-Sound editorial team. Original version updated 01.11.2026. The information is general; the type of earplug and its use are decided case by case in conversation.
More in English
Frequently asked questions
Questions from employers about hearing protection
Does this guide replace safety advice?
No. The guide deals with the process of working with an earplug supplier. The requirements that apply to the workplace and the type of protection at each workstation are set by the professionals in the organisation.
What should be prepared before contacting you on behalf of an organisation?
A contact person, a list of interested employees, the type of activity and a possible place for taking the impressions. We will go over the rest in conversation.
Can ready-made and made-to-measure earplugs be combined?
Yes, many organisations do this. The decision about who gets which solution is the organisation's, according to each group's use.
What do we do about new employees?
Each earplug is made from the impression of the employee's own ear, so a new employee needs their own impression. You can contact us again when they join.
Please do not send sensitive medical information in a message. We go over the relevant details on the phone.
Want to build a process for your team?
Tell us about the organisation, the type of activity and the number of participants, and we will get back to you. Service nationwide, by appointment.
055-3333338G-Sound is an authorized marketer of Philips hearing aids.