Posted By micklecats
Dear All,
I have recently (the last 2 months) experienced disposable foam ear plugs breaking up and leaving the tip part in the individual's ear canal.
I won't name the manufacturer at this stage as I am not sure it is a fault of the actual ear plugs, so please don't pressure me!
Anyway we dispense foam disposable ear plugs, other PPE and consumables to cell leaders from a multi drawer vending machine with a computer user interface.
The manufacturer sells literally millions of these every month, and they are puzzled that we are the only user who has had this problem, and twice as well. They think it is something we are doing here.
I tend to agree with them but before I put them back out for use (we are using a washable type for now) I wondered if anyone else has experience this kind of thing.
I have not heard of this for 10 years where those 'cotton wool filled plastic bag' ones were still around.

Anyone who has any comments please add them or contact me direct, cheers.

Mick L. Cats

Posted By Chris Packham
Can't comment precisely on the problem, but remember that the user has to compress the plug into a tight cylinder before inserting it into the ear. Are you certain that they always ensure they have clean hands before doing this? If chemicals that their hands have been in contact with have been absorbed into the skin, then it is possible that these may then be transferred to the plugs with the resulting reaction. So you might want to check what chemicals they handle and whether this is a possibility.

Incidentally, this is one reason why I personally am not keen on this type of foam plug. I have seen plenty rolled up with soiled fingers, with the result that what resembles a pliece of oily waste is then inserted into the ear. Consequence in one case was dermatitis within the ear which was very difficult to treat.

Chris