The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) was signed into law on December 29, 1970, by President Richard Nixon.  OSHA went into effect on April 28, 1971, which is one of the reasons April is designated as Safety Awareness month by several industries, including construction.

An early advocate in the pursuit of construction workers’ safety was Joseph B. Strauss, who was the Chief Engineer of the Golden Gate Bridge.  In the 1930s, it was commonly expected that there would be one fatality for every million dollars spent on a construction project. With the Golden Gate Bridge estimated to cost $35 million, the grim prediction was 35 worker deaths (kattsafe.com, 4/28/2023). But Strauss wasn’t willing to accept those odds—he was determined to make his project safer.

In a Saturday Evening Post article published in 1937, Joseph Strauss said he wanted to “cheat death by using every known safety device” for workers on the Bridge.  He was determined to reduce the number of fatalities estimated for the project, and history shows he certainly achieved his goal.

Worker deaths on the Golden Gate Bridge were projected at 35 based on the size of the project.  Actual deaths during the building of the Golden Gate Bridge were between 11 and 17 workers.  Strauss proved that safety gear would save lives.

One of the most significant precautions employed by Strauss was the Safety Net.  This net hung under the bridge to catch workers who fell from the bridge.  Nineteen men fell into the net and survived – earning membership in the so-called “Halfway to Hell Club” (Kattsafe.com, 2023).

Some of Strauss’s safety innovations for the Golden Gate Bridge included:

  • Safety Net hung under the bridge
  • Hard hats and respirator helmets
  • Eye protection
  • Creams to guard skin against harsh winds
  • Safety lines to prevent falls

In April, we celebrate safety in the workplace – but it’s also worth remembering the pioneers who championed worker protection long before OSHA or other labor laws existed. Their forward-thinking ideas and commitment to safety still save lives today.

Karen Wagnon is one of the owners of SelectView Data Solutions. SelectView specializes in building integrated applications and custom financial reporting for the Construction Industry.