Overview
In the photo below, taken in 1931 during the construction of the Empire State Building in New York, three iron workers are riveting beams together to create a much lighter and stronger building than previous mortar or prick buildings. The construction techniques were extremely modern and strong: so strong was the Empire State Building that only fourteen years after this photo was taken, a B-25 bomber flew into the same building at approximately the same floor where these workers are. The building withstood the shock of the airplane strike, impressing everybody in New York about the strength of the building.
Look closely at the two photos and compare how safety was done in early industrial America compared to today. Write a brief description about each of these safety hazards. Point out what the hazard is in each photo, and point out how the hazards, old and modern, are controlled, if they are controlled at all. As part of your description, try to answer the following questions:
- What was done to protect workers from falls from heights, then and now?
- What was done to protect worker’s hands from hot or sharp objects?
- What was done to protect the public or workers below when tools are mishandled and maybe dropped from above?
- What was done to warn workers about falls from heights or imminent danger?