What did a furnace man do in the iron works?

A furnace man in the iron works was responsible for operating and maintaining the furnaces used in the smelting process to extract iron from ore. This role involved managing the temperature and materials in the furnace, ensuring optimal conditions for the production of molten iron. Additionally, the furnace man monitored the flow of raw materials and removed slag and impurities from the metal. Their expertise was crucial for maintaining efficiency and quality in iron production.