It’s easy to see where 3M’s interests lie when you realize that the earplugs cost just 85 cents to make, yet they were selling them to the military for a whopping $7.63. They chose not to disclose that they were dangerous and defective. Records showed that 3M knew about these issues but decided their earplugs were too profitable to cease sales. When they could, the plugs didn’t create the necessary protective seal. Soldiers were then unable to keep the plugs in their ears most of the time. To fix these issues, they shortened the earplugs–leaving them too small for the average ear canal. Originally, the design hindered the earplugs’ ability to fit into the carrying cases of Army soldiers and made wearing combat helmets a challenge. The original design of the earplugs was developed by Aearo Technologies, which was eventually sold to 3M when they bought the company in 2008. However, they would later admit that the design was defective and put them at risk for permanent hearing loss and other complications. The intention of the design was to protect military service members from the loudest sounds they are exposed to while simultaneously offering the ability to still hear vital commands. The dual-ended Combat Arms Earplugs used a sound channel with constrictions and openings that produced a non-linear sound attenuation effect. Without personal protective equipment for their ears, these sounds can cause permanent internal damage to otherwise healthy ears. Many military personnel are exposed to dangerous noise levels during the fulfillment of their daily tasks. How 3M Went Wrong with their Combat Arms Earplugs Wearers typically did not notice the seal breaking, so they would continue using them, completely unaware of their compromised protection. However, the earplugs were found to be too short and could easily become dislodged, breaking the seal in the inner ear. Or, if the soldier needed to hear a quieter sound like a command, they could open them slightly, which would allow them to hear soft noises. One way soldiers could use them was to create a seal inside the inner ear to block out loud noises associated with warfare. The 3M combat earplugs were meant to serve dual purposes.

3m combat arms earplugs