The Golden Gate Bridge was constructed over a little over four years, from January 5, 1933, to May 27, 1937. This iconic suspension bridge, which spans the Golden Gate Strait, was built during the Great Depression and became a symbol of hope and progress during that challenging time.
When building the Golden Gate Bridge, the lead structural engineer Joseph Strauss insisted on the installation of a safety net even though its $130,000 (equivalent to over $2.7 million today) cost was deemed exorbitant. The safety net was suspended beneath the bridge’s floor during the construction of the roadway. It was made of manila rope and extended 10 feet out from the trusses on each side, providing a wide buffer to catch any workers who fell.
This net saved the lives of 19 men, who later formed the “Halfway to Hell Club.” The net also boosted worker morale and increased productivity because the crew felt more secure while working at great heights.
The Golden Gate Bridge’s safety record was remarkably good for its time. The industry standard for a project of its size ($35 million) was one fatality for every million dollars spent, which would have predicted 35 deaths. However, only 11 workers died during the entire construction. Tragically, 10 of those deaths occurred in a single accident when a five-ton scaffolding platform collapsed and tore through the net.
The use of this safety net, along with other safety innovations like hard hats and mandatory safety lines, established a new precedent for worker protection in large-scale construction, forever changing the industry’s approach to safety.
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