Be advised that some of these FAQs & Tech Briefs apply to U.S. Regulations, but may be of interest to users in other countries. Outside of the USA, check with all applicable and local government regulations.
- How can I assess my workplace for noise levels?
- Do Moldex® disposable foam earplugs contain natural rubber latex?
- Can the PlugStation® be refilled once we run out of earplugs?
- Where can the Moldex® PlugStation®/One-Stop PlugShop® be placed?
- Can Moldex® foam earplugs be washed and/or reused?
- Can Moldex® disposable foam earplugs be irritating in the ears?
- We are evaluating your Moldex Metal Detectable Earplugs models #6615 SparkPlugs
and #6415 Rockets and wanted to know if you can suggest a setting for our metal
detector or if you can supply us with additional information on the metal detectable
parts in the earplugs? - Can your Moldex corded PlugStations models; 6880 with corded SparkPlugs (#6654) 6881 with corded metal detectable SparkPlugs (#6615) or your 6882 with corded PuraFit (#6900) be refilled?
The purpose of assessing workplace noise is usually to determine if employee noise exposures exceed OSHA’s PEL of 90 dBA – 8 hour time weighted average (TWA), which is equivalent to a steady noise of 90 dBA for eight hours. Higher levels are allowed, but for shorter periods. For example, 95 dB is allowed if the duration is four hours and 100 dB is allowed for two hours (provided that these overexposures are equally compensated with underexposures). OSHA also sets an action level of 85 dBA – 8 hour TWA. Exceeding this action level requires implementation of a comprehensive hearing conservation program. Two methods for monitoring are acceptable, which include area monitoring and personal monitoring. In area monitoring, a sound level meter (SLM) is used to determine the noise levels in various work areas. In personal monitoring, the exposure is read off a dosimeter worn by an employee. It is recommended that when a noise assessment is required, you contact a certified industrial hygienist.
No. All Moldex® disposable foam earplugs are manufactured with an acrylic polymer material. This material is synthetic and does not contain the proteins found in natural rubber latex, which usually is the cause of a latex allergic reaction.
No, the dispenser is designed to be disposed of when empty. This promotes more hygienic dispensing of the product since many empty bottles would require cleaning when empty due to the dirty environments where they are located. The Moldex®PlugStation® is easy to replace and is a no worry solution.
The PlugStation® or One-Stop PlugShop® should be
placed in:
- Easily accessible areas where workers frequent such as washroom, lunchroom, break room, tool crib/shed.
- Areas where hearing protection is needed.
- They should not be placed outside in direct exposure to the elements.
Moldex® foam earplugs, including SparkPlugs®, Pura-Fit®, Camo Plugs®, Goin’ Green® ,
and
Softies® are all disposable foam earplugs and must be discarded once they are soiled/dirty. Disposable foam earplugs may not be washed or cleaned.
Depending on your environment and the employee’s ear hygiene, disposable foam earplugs may need to be replaced at the end of each shift or possibly several times per day.
You will find the following links useful:
- OSHA Occupational noise exposure, OSHA 1910.95
- https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9735
- OSHA Noise & Hearing Conservation:
- https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/index.html
- NIOSH Noise & Hearing Loss Prevention:
- https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise/default.html
We do manufacture reusable earplugs that may be washed and reused, please visit our website link below for additional information.
If instructions on the packaging are followed (see below), our earplugs have been found to be nonirritating, tested to ISO 10993 Standard for Cytotoxicity and Primary Skin Irritation.
Ensure that your hands and fingers are clean prior to insertion and you insert earplugs in a non-contaminated area. Any contamination on your hands or fingers may transfer to the earplug and cause irritation.
If irritation, redness or discomfort occurs, discontinue use and consult a licensed health practitioner.
Follow-fitting instructions, reference links below.
Download Fitting Instructions Poster
View Fitting Instructions Video
and #6415 Rockets and wanted to know if you can suggest a setting for our metal
detector or if you can supply us with additional information on the metal detectable
parts in the earplugs?
There are wide ranges of metal detectors used in the food processing industry and
many are designed or have custom features, which may also have individual adjustable
settings to suit the needs of that particular user.
Since it is nearly impossible to predict the size or shape of a potential metal contaminant,
we suggest that you adjust your metal detector’s settings to at its highest possible sensitivity setting.
Below you will find detailed information on the metal contents of the Moldex #6615
Metal detectable SparkPlugs and the #6415 Metal detectable Rockets to assist you further.
For the Moldex #6615 Metal detectable SparkPlugs, we use a 2mm diameter chrome alloy steel ball which
is 0.0372 grams. Some customers adjust the sensitivity of their detector system
using a 1 cm long section of earplug cord(which is also made of a metal detectable material),
and adjusting until they detect either the cord or the earplug.
For the Moldex #6415 Metal detectable Rockets, we use a type 302 stainless steel spring.
It is 0.350 inches long has a 0.100 diameter, which weighs 0.1 grams. Some customers adjust
the sensitivity of their detector system using a 1 cm long section of earplug cord
(which is also made of a metal detectable material), and adjusting until they detect either the cord or the earplug.
6881 with corded metal detectable SparkPlugs (#6615) or your 6882 with corded PuraFit (#6900) be refilled?
Although you may be physically able to restock corded earplugs into the empty Moldex PlugStations, we DO NOT recommend it. Moldex Corded PlugStations come pre-filled and therefore designed for the user’s convenience, to eliminate the cost and the time of refilling. Also, the PlugStation “Container Packaging” has been labeled as required by the EPA per ANSI Specs S3.19-1974 as well as with our specific lot number information per batch.
If you should have any other questions, please feel free to call us at 800-421-0668, ext. 512/550 or via email at: tech@moldex.com or customersupport@moldex.com
Click here for Moldex Corded PlugStation.