@hidden_stories_of_usa: Five workers died during the construction of the Empire State Building from 1929 to 1931, with an estimated 27 workers perishing during the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. These workers, known as roughnecks, risked their lives to construct some of the tallest buildings in Manhattan, such as the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building, during the 1920s and 1930s. Workers had few protections, no hard hats, and no safety ropes. It was a time when crew foremen expected one man to die for every $1 million spent on a skyscraper. Even in the face of peril, some men managed to laugh in the face of death, as incredible pictures show construction workers goofing off as they built America’s most iconic skyscrapers. It’s astonishing that they spent their eight-hour shifts in the clouds, without any safety equipment, risking everything for the sake of building these towering structures. It’s a remarkable story that reminds us just how far we’ve come in terms of workplace safety. The earliest stage of skyscraper design and construction encompasses buildings built between 1884 and 1945, predominantly in the American cities of New York and Chicago. By the mid-20th century, safety equipment such as harnesses, hard hats, safety nets, and other protective gear became standard in construction projects, including skyscrapers. #skyscrapers #safety #construction #newyork

Hidden chapters of America🇺🇸

Open In TikTok:

Region: US

Tuesday 19 May 2026 04:49:08 GMT