Thorman: My Grandfather was foreman in a grinding wheel shop, the Abrasive Company, in the Philadelphia area. He worked there during the first depression and went under with "White Lung" disease.
Myself was a surface grinder in a machine tool shop for three years. Truing the wheels (with diamonds) fills the air with stuff you don't want to breath and the working coolant is rather nasty too.
I've been an IBM mainframe programmer for the last 18 years until the great american sellout of the tech sector. Only manglers (managers) and necessary technicians (doctors, liars, accountants, etc.) are allowed to make a good living, I guess.
My new job is still white collar, however; I throw baggage at an airport now (and DO where a white shirt!).
At least, like Bill Quateman says: "I've got my music..."