Just have to say it took a lot of cajones for the workers to have lunch some 1,000 feet with no safety constraints at all. I know I couldn't do it.
Built in eighteen months, just like the Pentagon. The Freedom Tower took almost ten years to build.
Absolutely incredible!
In the middle of the Great Depression MEN built that building in under a year and a half while today it would take 4 to 5 years. We are pale imitations of our forbearers thanks to communist rent seeking bureaucrats gumming up the works for fun and profit.
This is from “Up in the Old Hotel” collection of essays from Joseph Mitchell who wrote profiles of NYC published by the Nee Yorker way back when it was good
It’s a very interesting quick view of how the NYC skyline was really put together particularly how the Mohawks came down from Canada to help as they had an agility and fearlessness of the heights.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1949/09/17/the-mohawks-in-high-steel
I get queezy just looking at those pictures!
It is amazing that there were only 5 recorded falling deaths during the construction.
The Depression has taken hold. Me, I would have stayed on the ground and sold apples. I am terrified of heights.
That 1st photo on the beam is one of my favorites of all time! No pajama boys there I can guarantee
The Empire State building was built back in the day with REAL Steel.
Not that chincy steel that can melt with just a little aviation fuel.
Those men aren’t just in those daredevil poses they are doing hard muscle wrenching work from all kinds of angles and positions while dangling off those deadly heights, ballsy stuff.
“only five men died” we are a sex that takes it in stride that building and maintaining nice comfortable lives for our loved ones and society leads to some of us dying and getting injured during our 8-5 work days.
Look at what the guy at the far right is drinking!!
“Despite an astonishing lack of safety regulations, only five workers died during construction.”
And you didn’t hear non-stop backup beepers on every piece of equipment on the site making non-stop noise pollution. However did those guys keep from getting run over?
Oh, dear Lord. I don’t like heights and just cringe at the photo of all those guys sitting on that beam.
There had to be accidents.
I wonder how many guys lost their lives from falling.
Where was the photographer located; did he have to hang out on stuff like the workers?
Two things:
1. Because of the Great Depression, crews could hire the best since workers had few other options. Such talent is much less likely to screw up and get themselves or someone else killed.
2. Safety regulations, while needed, can also give the false impression of a safe situation, where if you knew it was all on you and your coworkers instead of some control box or procedure from a manufacturer, you'd make sure you were paying attention.
Despite an astonishing lack of safety regulations, only five workers died during construction.
It doesn’t include injuries I am sure
What have all the federal safety regulation actually done?
Is it time to turn OSHA back to the states too?
legal ramification which didn’t exist then, might be enough today.
Actually, the lunch boxes are interesting. One says GO VOTE? made of paper? toss them when you are done. No metal lunch box to drop on someone’s head.
don’t see many safety harnesses...