Unpopular opinion: We laughed off ear plugs on the job, and my ears haven't forgotten.
When I first got into boilermaking, nobody bothered with ear protection around the loud gear. Old timers would shrug and say the racket from the pressure tests and metal work was just part of life. I followed along, thinking it made me seem tougher on the crew. Now, years later, there's this steady buzz in my right ear that shows up when things get quiet. The sites today are different, with strict rules and everyone wearing their muffs without a second thought. It's good to see the change, and I always tell the new folks to guard their hearing from day one. Honestly, I miss the silence I took for granted, and that buzz is a daily reminder. We learned the hard way, but at least the trade is moving in a better direction for health.