Frequently asked questions

In the food industry, food safety is the highest priority. Hearing protection must therefore not only protect hearing, but also eliminate the risk of physical contamination (foreign particles in the food). To comply with strict quality standards such as HACCP, IFS and BRCGS, hearing protection must meet four crucial requirements:

• Metal detection (traceability): In the unlikely event that an otoplastic falls into the production line, it must be detected immediately by the detection systems. Standard plastic is not detected by metal detectors. That is why a steel ball is incorporated into the design. This ensures that the final check (the metal detector) stops the line if the earplug ends up in the product.
• Visual detection (use of colour): Blue is a colour that does not occur naturally in foodstuffs. For this reason, blue is the industry standard. This ensures maximum contrast, allowing employees or visual inspection systems to immediately detect a lost ear mould on the conveyor belt or in the product.
• Hygienic material (recommendation: acrylic): In environments where bacteriological risks must be minimised, Tympro recommends the use of hard acrylic.
  • Why acrylic? Unlike softer silicone materials (which can be more porous and age more quickly), acrylic has a smooth, hard and non-porous surface.
  • Cleaning: This makes the otoplastics very easy to clean and disinfect, which is essential to prevent cross-contamination. Acrylic is therefore the most hygienic choice for the food industry.
• Anchoring (cord with clip): Prevention is better than detection. That is why we always recommend using a cord with a clip. This prevents an otoplastic from falling on the floor or into a machine if it slips out of the ear.
  • Specifications: This cord must also meet the detection requirements: it must be blue and contain detectable material (such as metal particles).