The blocks attached to the shoes -- is that to protect from heat? I find it interesting that the workers took great care to protect legs and arms with tight fit but no protection from breathing the dust was apparent from the very dirty faces and nostrils.

Having grown up in the same county, I remember the black cloud emanating from the facility when I was a child. Everything was black for hundreds of yards surrounding the plant, including the cattle. Even though the plant is not polluting, it is still in operation and employees are paid overtime every day to take a shower. It is not as bad as in 1942, but the blackness still permeates.

What is the purpose of the attachments to the boots worn by the man on the left?

What is the man on the left wearing over his boots? I'm not familiar with the process of making carbon black other than it's obviously messy. What a hellish looking place.

Would those thick pads strapped to his boots be to prevent static buildup/discharge in an environment heavy with carbon dust?

came to mind.

This is one of those shots that takes the breath away at first glance and, upon further inspection, stuns the viewer silent. The man on the left is riveting for his light eyes with their vaguely troubled and even tiredly challenging expression -- a look which says "Just take the picture if you must." The ropey string tied around his pants legs at the ankles -- is that to keep the dust from getting into his shoes, or did it protect his legs? Whatever it was for, it makes me sad. At any rate, the way his gloved hands are grabbing his shins says "I want you to see this."

His companion's expression is similarly grave and somehow anxious, with the furrowed brow from the squint and again, light eyes that glow against the carbon that coats his face. He has poetic hands that don't seem to suit the laborer profile. There's a heavy sense of resignation in both of these men but I hope that, despite being weary from hard work and maybe a certain kind of despair at which I can only guess, they were able to get cleaned up and have a good meal and be with loved ones and rest well at the end of each workday.

... and they have Zombie Apocalypse written on them.