Earplugs for the open-plan office
In an open-plan office, the noise is rarely harmful, but it is tiring. Custom earplugs with a light DR filter reduce background chatter and phone calls. You can still hear a colleague who talks to you. Discreet or in your company style, and from 10 employees with ear impressions taken at the office.
No harmful noise, but still a nuisance
Office noise stays well below 80 dB(A), the level above which the law starts to require hearing protection. The problem is a different one. Speech and background noise break your concentration.
What you hear at the office
-
Normal conversation next to youFor comparison45 to 60 dB(A)
-
Vacuum cleanerFor example when cleaning during working hours60 to 70 dB(A)
-
Phone calls and meetings at the deskNot harmful to your hearing, but disruptive during focused workNuisance
-
Printer, coffee machine, doors and footstepsBackground noise that carries far in an open spaceNuisance
What you need to keep hearing
-
↔
A colleague who talks to youYou do not need to take the earplugs out to answer a question.
-
☎
Your phoneA ringtone or notification stays audible, so you do not miss anything.
-
!
Fire and evacuation alarmThat is why you choose light attenuation. At the office, you do not need more.
The noise levels come from Kinderopvang Werkt!, Richtlijnen verlichting, binnenklimaat en geluid (example levels for conversation and a vacuum cleaner, in Dutch). Arboportaal, the Dutch government's website on working conditions, writes about disturbing noise as an occupational risk.
When do earplugs help at the office?
Custom earplugs at the office are not mandatory hearing protection. They are an aid for anyone who needs to concentrate in a space that is not designed for it.
Disturbing noise is an occupational risk too
According to Arboportaal, disturbing noise can be an occupational risk alongside harmful noise. It belongs in the RI&E if it leads to stress, concentration problems or poorer speech intelligibility. The report "Moe van geluid" (Tired of noise, December 2025) shows how often that happens. About half of all workers are annoyed by noise at work. For 34%, that leads to complaints such as headaches, reduced concentration or misunderstandings.
First the room, then the earplug
Earplugs do not fix a badly designed open-plan office. Start with the room, with separate call spaces, quiet workspaces, acoustic panels and agreements about meetings at the desk. Custom earplugs are the addition for anyone who is still bothered after that. Think of programmers, finance departments or employees who are sensitive to noise. So offer them on a voluntary basis, as part of your wellbeing policy.
If you have colleagues who quickly become overstimulated, also read earplugs for sensory overload.
Light attenuation with a DR filter
The custom earplugs for the office come with a DR filter with 9 dB SNR as standard. That is deliberately light. It takes the edge off background chatter, while a colleague or the fire alarm stays clearly audible. The ventilating filter material prevents the blocked-up feeling of ordinary earplugs. That way you can keep them in all day. Anyone who works in a busier space can get a stronger DR variant. The series goes up to 19 dB SNR. The filter is interchangeable.
Make agreements about being reachable
Earplugs in does not mean unreachable. Agree how to get the attention of someone who is concentrating, for example with a tap on the desk or a chat message instead of calling out. Agree that the earplugs come out for meetings and client conversations. That way earplugs do not feel like shutting yourself off, for the wearer or for colleagues.
You can read how to make sure colleagues actually use the earplugs in how to make sure employees actually wear their hearing protection.
Discreet or in your company style
A clear, black or white version is barely noticeable at the office. You can also have them made in your company colour, with a logo. Then they become a recognisable part of the welcome pack or the wellbeing policy. Looking for earplugs for yourself rather than for a team? Then take a look at earplugs for focus.
Hearing protection checklist for the workplace
Six sections with checklist items on three A4 pages, from noise measurement and RI&E to information and the hearing test. Each item shows the article from the Working Conditions Decree or the Working Conditions Act, and the last page has an action list. The checklist is in Dutch.
A fitting day at the office
Without anyone having to travel for it.
Who takes part?
Employees sign up voluntarily. They choose the colour and material, and you decide whether a logo goes on them.
Ear impressions in a meeting room
If 10 or more employees take part, we take an impression of everyone's ear canal at the office. The impression material sets in about five minutes.
At the officeRemote workers
Anyone working from home that day has their ear impressions taken at a partner hearing centre. The same applies to teams of fewer than 10 people.
Ready about three weeks later
Everyone gets their own custom earplugs with a case. Anyone who joins later has their ear impressions taken at a hearing centre in our network.
Questions about earplugs at the office
Is an employer required to provide earplugs at the office?
No. The legal duty to provide hearing protection starts above 80 dB(A), and an office is not that loud. Disturbing noise does belong in the RI&E if it leads to stress or concentration problems. Earplugs can then be one of the measures.
Can I still hear my colleagues?
Yes. The DR filter with 9 dB SNR gives light attenuation. Conversations in the room sound quieter and less sharp, but you can still hear anyone who talks to you.
What is the difference with noise-cancelling headphones?
A custom earplug reduces noise without a battery and is small enough to keep in all day. It is made to fit, so nothing presses on your ears or head.
Are custom earplugs comfortable for a whole working day?
They are made from an impression of your ear canal, so they sit securely. The ventilating DR filter prevents a blocked-up feeling. For anyone who wants extra softness, there is silicone.
Can we have ear impressions taken for only part of the team?
Yes. At the office, it is a voluntary provision. You can start with the employees who need it and expand later. We take ear impressions at the office from 10 employees. With a smaller group, everyone visits a partner hearing centre.