Helmet-Mounted Ear Defenders and Chin Straps: Completing Your Hard Hat Kit

Once a helmet’s basic protection is sorted, most sites still need to add something to it — hearing protection that doesn’t clash with the shell, or a chin strap that stops the helmet coming off entirely. These are the accessories that finish the kit.

In short: SHL’s helmet-mounted ear defender clips onto a helmet’s universal accessory slots rather than using its own headband, and two chin strap options — standard and linesman-grade — keep the helmet on the head rather than just balanced on it.

Helmet-mounted ear defenders

Our Helmet Mounting Earmuff Sonis (104-AEB010CY) is built to fit the universal slots on the EVO range of helmets, with ABS cups and foam/PET cushions on a stainless steel wire arm, conforming to EN352-3 at SNR 26. Mounting on the helmet rather than wearing a separate headband means no clash between the ear defender’s band and the helmet’s own harness — useful on jobs where the helmet is on and off repeatedly through the day. See our full ear muffs vs ear plugs guide for how its SNR 26 rating compares with our standalone headband options.

Standard chin strap

Our Chin Strap Deluxe for Helmet (103-SE171A) adds a comfort chin cup to the basic strap, holding the helmet in place during normal work movement — bending, reaching, or working at an angle where an unsecured helmet would otherwise slip or fall.

4-point harness for linesman helmets

Our 4 Point Harness for Linesman Helmet (103-AHV200) is a heavier-duty chin strap harness purpose-built for linesman helmets, where the helmet needs to stay secured through more demanding movement — climbing, working at height on poles or towers — than a standard chin strap is built for.

Matching the accessory to the work

A standard chin strap suits general site wear where the main risk is the helmet slipping off during bending or reaching. A 4-point linesman harness suits work at height or on poles where the helmet needs a firmer, multi-point hold. Helmet-mounted ear defenders suit any job where hearing protection and a helmet are both required and taking a separate headband on and off all day isn’t practical.

Frequently asked questions

What SNR does the helmet-mounted ear defender offer?

SNR 26, conforming to EN352-3 — check our ear muffs vs ear plugs guide if a higher rating is needed and a standalone headband model would suit the job better.

Do helmet-mounted ear defenders fit any helmet?

The Sonis helmet-mounted earmuff (104-AEB010CY) is built for the universal slots on JSP’s EVO range of helmets specifically.

What’s the difference between the standard and linesman chin straps?

The standard Chin Strap Deluxe (103-SE171A) is a single strap with a comfort chin cup for general wear. The 4-Point Harness for Linesman Helmets (103-AHV200) is a heavier-duty, multi-point harness for more demanding movement such as climbing.

Why would I need a chin strap at all?

Without one, a helmet can slip or fall off during bending, reaching, or working at an angle — a chin strap keeps it secured through normal work movement.

See our guides to safety helmets compared, helmet visors and face shields, and spare helmet harnesses.

Browse our full helmet accessories range in stock now, or get in touch to talk through what your helmet setup needs.