Silver is not always Gold
The people work in an aluminium factory where they are producing aluminium pots and pans, as well as cookery items like teapots. The metal aluminium sheets arrive in large flat plates. The heavy machinery will press these plates into the shape of whatever they are producing that day. Pots or pans or teapots. After that rough initial production process, the workers need to shave off the small metal scraps. This gives a heavy metal dust, which sticks to everything, including the bodies of the workers. After an hour of work they are fully covered in this silver colored metal dust. Of course there are health issues, its very dangerous and this metal dust is inhaled and gets into their lungs. Workplace compliance is uncommon in this industry, and most workers are oblivious to the danger they are exposed to.