7. Steelworkers (Skyscraper Builders)
Erecting early skyscrapers demanded workers to balance on narrow beams hundreds of feet above ground, often without safety harnesses. Iconic images, such as the 1932 photograph “Lunch atop a Skyscraper,” depict New York steelworkers highlighting their daily peril and contribution to America’s skyline. Fatalities among these workers drove significant changes in equipment and safety policies, leading to the implementation of modern safety standards in construction (history.com).
