Howard Leight(r) Earplugs To Be Included In Major Design Exhibition at New Museum of Modern Art

Smithfield, RI — “SAFE: Design Takes On Risk,” the first major design exhibition at The Museum of Modern Art [MoMA] in New York City since its reopening in November 2004, will present more than 300 contemporary products and prototypes–including ten Howard Leight earplugs–designed for a variety of reasons: to protect body and mind from dangerous or stressful circumstances; respond to emergencies; ensure clarity of information; and provide a sense of comfort and security. The objects displayed in the exhibition will address the spectrum of human fears and worries, from the most mundane to the most exceptional, from the dread of earthquakes and terrorist attacks, to those of darkness and loneliness.

Howard Leight is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of in-ear hearing protection in the industrial market and is widely recognized as an innovator in protection and fit. Howard Leight(r) products to be included in the display include: Matrix(tm), Max Lite(r), Laser Lite(r), MultiMax(r), SmartFit(r), Quiet(r), AirSoft(r), Laser Trak(r), QB2 HYG(r), and QB3 HYG(r). The exhibit will run from October 16, 2005 – January 2, 2006.

According to MoMA, “Safety is an instinctive need that has guided human choices throughout history and has in recent years become a focus, even an obsession. Risk, on the other hand, is mankinds propelling fuel. Humankind craves discovery, innovation, and inspiration, no matter how dangerous. Designers are trained to balance risk with protection and to mediate between disruptive change and normalcy. Good design goes hand in hand with personal needs, providing protection and security without sacrificing innovation and invention.”

The “SAFE” exhibit follows in the tradition of such influential MoMA exhibitions as Machine Art (1934), Modern Masks and Helmets (1991), and Mutant Materials in Contemporary Design (1995). Its goal is to redirect the pursuit of beauty toward the appreciation of economy of function and technology. The exhibition covers all forms of design, from manufactured products to information architecture. Products featured will range from refugee shelters to baby strollers, from demining equipment to nutritional information, from protective sports gear, to toys that help children with psychological impairments regain a sense of self and of the world surrounding them. A life-saving station will be installed in the MoMA lot adjacent to the American Folk Art Museum and will be visible from the street.

An exhibit publication cataloging products on display and including essays on design, technology and materials will be available. Additional lectures and educational programs will also accompany the exhibition. For additional information, contact Daniela Stigh at MoMA Department of Architecture and Design, telephone 212-708-9747, or email daniela_stigh@moma.org

Since its beginnings as a one-man operation more than 30 years ago, Howard Leight Industries has grown into one of the largest manufacturers of in-ear hearing protection in the industrial market and is widely recognized as an innovator in protection and fit. Since 2001 Howard Leight has been a part of the Bacou-Dalloz(tm) Hearing Safety Group.

Combining the innovation and expertise of Howard Leight(r) Earplugs and Bilsom(r) Earmuffs, the Bacou-Dalloz Hearing Safety Group is a world leader in hearing safety.

Bacou-Dalloz is the world leader in the design, manufacture and sale of personal protective equipment, offering a comprehensive range of safety products designed to protect people from hazards in the workplace. The Group specializes in head protection equipment (eye and face, respiratory and hearing protection), body protection equipment (clothing, gloves and footwear) and fall protection equipment. With a worldwide presence and over 6,000 people, Bacou-Dalloz endeavors to contribute to ongoing improvements in workplace health and safety by providing innovative, comfort-engineered products that workers want to wear. The Groups products are sold through a worldwide network of distributor partners for use in all sectors of activity (construction, manufacturing, telecommunications, homeland security, petrochemicals, medical, public services, etc.). Bacou-Dalloz is listed on the Premier March of the Euronext stock exchange in Paris, and is part of the SBF 120 index.

For additional product information, contact:
Bacou-Dalloz Hearing Safety Group
7828 Waterville Road
San Diego, CA 92154
Tel: 800/430-5490
Fax: 401/232-3110
email: rbessette@bacou-dalloz.com
http://www.hearingportal.com