I’m fairly certain I wouldn’t want to be pounding red-hot iron while barefoot and almost naked.
Shoes will catch falling sparks and burn the ankles and socks. They are walking in sand which smothers the sparks, and the sweat with clothing on makes one miserable. I have worked as a blacksmith and horseshoer and in steel fabrication.
Now stick welding is different as the welding rays will burn you like sunburn so you have to have on shoes and heavy clothing or leather gear. Makes one miserable. You soon learn to dance a quick jig when a spark goes down inside your steel toed boots.