I work in a giant auto plant with lots of noise: stamping, welding, torque drivers.

When I started in 2005 the rule was “2 hours on the floor then put in ear plugs” and the only area of the plant that policed it at all was the Stamping plant.

After a few years my annual hearing test showed signs of hearing loss, minor but more than could be explained by aging by a few years. I made a joke to someone that had been there for 20 years that I’m losing my hearing and he showed me his hearing test. He was damn near deaf at 45. No more jokes, ear plugs always in if noise level is over 83 dB, no more loud headphones or music. Take care of yourself folks.