Custom Hearing Protection devices by Cotral Lab
Cotral Lab designs, manufactures, and distributes high-quality custom hearing protection to meet the specific needs of each client, using advanced technologies and in-depth knowledge of hearing health.
Our teams handle noise risk awareness modules, train your employees, and equip them with the most suitable protection for their work environment. A custom-made turnkey solution.
We continuously innovate in the field of custom hearing protection by developing active, communicative, connected, and intelligent equipment to meet the challenges of the professional world.
Hearing protection customised to each person and every situation
Comfort, communication, concentration, ease of use, hygiene, and cost-efficiency, all these qualities have made Cotral Lab custom-made earplugs the most popular individual noise protection among employees and companies.
Less isolating than ear defenders and more effective and comfortable than disposable earplugs, Cotral Lab's custom-made hearing protection devices also offers great flexibility in terms of filtration choices (attenuation of intense noises on certain frequencies or linear attenuation facilitating understanding during conversations) to adapt to all noise levels.
Cotral Services, 100% peace of mind
Single Point of Contact
A prevention technician dedicated to your case
MyCotral Client Space
For easy online management of your equipment fleet
Prevention and Training
Awareness training for your staff to ensure optimal usage
Fit Test
Conducting tests to ensure the effectiveness of the protection
Guarantees
Up to 6 years of warranty on your hearing protection
Looking for a solution to protect your employees?
Get contactedHow does it work?A simplified and assured customer journey from A to Z by a Cotral Lab representative
The ear impressions of your employees are taken directly on-site. The prevention technician selects the most suitable hearing protectors and filters for each individual, based on their needs and work environment (noise level). They also organize a noise risk awareness workshop to ensure a thorough understanding of the protection measures being implemented.
Communicate and stay protected A custom earplug that protects without isolating
Choosing a personal hearing protector is an important step as it determines the protection level of the wearer. This selection must be made with great care to ensure the user does not face risks due to inadequate protection.
Developed by HearingProTech®, the SAPAN® method is a tool used by Cotral Lab's prevention technicians to help select the best-suited hearing protector. The application identifies the most appropriate hearing protection for each user's specific needs and constraints, in compliance with guidelines, laws, standards, and recommendations.
Once the protector is worn, the user should ideally be within a satisfactory residual noise level of 70 to 75 dB(A).
An inappropriate hearing protection presents two distinct risks:
Overprotection
Hearing isolation: Too much protection can make it difficult to perceive important sounds, such as alarms or conversations, which can affect communication and safety.
Discomfort: Excessive protection can cause discomfort, which may lead the user not to wear the protections regularly.
Auditory fatigue: Being too isolated can cause mental fatigue, especially in environments where it is important to hear contextual sounds.
Underprotection
Hearing loss risks: Prolonged exposure to high noise levels without adequate hearing protection can cause permanent and irreversible hearing damage.
Health: Exposure to loud noises can cause tinnitus and hyperacusis, which can be disturbing and affect quality of life.
Impact on performance: In noisy environments, underprotection can hinder concentration and performance, particularly in jobs where listening is crucial.
Easy maintenance of protections Cleaning custom earplugs is simple and quick
Water- and dust-resistant, the filters of custom hearing protections maintain their acoustic properties even in very dirty environments.
To ensure comfort and hygiene, it is recommended to clean the hearing protections daily with specific products. This maintenance helps preserve the effectiveness and durability of your protections.
Intuitive placement Hearing protectors that are easy to put in place
Simple steps to ensure that hearing protections are correctly installed in the ear. Providing effective protection while maintaining the comfort and hearing functionality necessary for daily activities.
Made to fit your ear A custom earplug that is comfortable and effective
The quality of the ear impression
They perfectly fit the ears (and auditory canals) of your employees, making them very comfortable. Therefore, they can be worn daily regardless of the time spent in a noisy environment: 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours...
An ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturing process
Custom hearing protections, made using 3D technology, are an exact replica of the ear impressions taken by your prevention technician.
Frequently Asked Questions Frequently asked questions about hearing protectors
What is the difference between a hearing aid and a hearing protector?
Hearing aids are devices that amplify sound. They are used when people already have hearing loss. Hearing protectors, such as Cotral Lab custom earplugs, are designed to prevent this hearing loss.
Are your protectors suitable for food industry requirements?
Qeos custom earplugs meet one of the main requirements of the food industry: an optional electromagnetic detection tag is available. You can complement it with a detectable cord. Additionally, for better visibility, Qeos hearing protectors are blue.
How to choose the most suitable hearing protection for my employees?
Your Prevention Technician selects the filter and model of hearing protection using the SAPAN method. After asking various questions to the user, the application will provide a list of the most suitable hearing protectors for each. Each employee benefits from custom attenuation based on their exposure level, their sound perception requirements, or any hearing deficits. The employee is protected from noise without the risk of overprotection.
What does SNR mean?
SNR stands for Single Number Rating. It is the overall attenuation index, a weighted average of the attenuation across all measured frequencies (63, 125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 Hz) for the filter integrated into the custom earplug.
How long is the warranty for Cotral Lab hearing protectors?
Cotral Lab hearing protectors are guaranteed for 6 years. Even though their lifespan may exceed this, after these 6 years we recommend taking new impressions or checking their actual effectiveness with a CAPA test.
You benefit from a unique warranty in the market of custom hearing protectors: the Effi-6 warranty. It covers the product in case of breakage (very rare since the product is not made of silicone) as well as comfort and attenuation. Your in-ear protection is compliant or refunded.
What are the different types of filters for Cotral protections?
There are two types of filters that attenuate sound differently:
- Uniform response filters attenuate sound without distorting it. Imagine lowering the ambient volume like you do with your MP3 player or stereo system. These filters provide the same sound quality; the volume is just reduced. Hearing protectors with these filters are recommended for technicians who adjust machines by ear, people with a high need to communicate in noisy environments, supervisory staff, and employees in the music and entertainment industry.
- HFA filters (High Frequency Attenuation) attenuate noise more strongly at high frequencies. These filters are very popular in very noisy environments: industry, metallurgy, construction, etc.
What are the most effective earplugs?
Custom earplugs are the most effective of custom hearing protectors.
Made by a hearing health professional, these earplugs are specially designed to fit perfectly in your ears (to the micron), providing optimal protection against noise.
These protectors must be equipped with attenuating filters that neither reduce too much nor too little ambient noise, placing the user between 70 and 75 dB, allowing them to continue hearing conversations, alert signals, or machinery while not causing any damage to their hearing.
How should employees clean their custom earplugs?
To clean your Cotral Lab earplugs, use warm water and a mild soap, then rinse and dry with a soft cloth. This can be done regularly to maintain their lifespan. Avoid using alcohol, as it can damage the material.
Make sure to clean the filters regularly as well.
Is there any contraindication to using hearing protectors?
Some contraindications include people with a history of allergies, ear diseases, or any other chronic issues related to their ears. For these cases, you should contact your ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) doctor. If your ENT gives you the green light, you can proceed with the impressions to make your custom earplugs.
Do you need to have a hearing loss to use hearing protectors?
No, you do not need to have a hearing loss to use hearing protectors. Everyone can benefit from hearing protection, especially in noisy environments where prolonged exposure can damage hearing.
What happens if I stop wearing my hearing protectors?
If you stop wearing your hearing protectors, you risk exposing yourself to high levels of noise, which can lead to hearing loss over time. It is crucial to wear them consistently, especially in loud environments.
How is an employee's ear impression taken?
Cotral Lab's Prevention Technicians come to your site to take ear impressions (part of the pinna and ear canal) of your employees. This meeting is also a time for discussion and information on noise risks and the use of Cotral molded earplugs. The Prevention Technician then uses the SAPAN method to determine with each employee the earplug with acoustic filter best suited to his or her workstation and specific requirements. Everything is configured to suit your company's needs.
How to put on custom earplugs?
Several methods can be used depending on the shape of the wearer's ear canal. If your ear canals are relatively straight, a simple push may suffice to correctly position the protector. If your ear canal is a bit more curved (bent), it may be necessary to make a slight counter-clockwise rotation to correctly position the hearing protector in your ears.
How to know if my molded earplugs are effective?
The CAPA method allows measuring the attenuation of your hearing protectors. This method consists of triggering a series of sounds at different intensities at certain frequencies. You then perform a similar test with your hearing protection worn, and the software measures the actual attenuation of your filters at these different frequencies. This ensures that the selected filtration level (SNR) is correct.
