The document contains photos from the construction of the Empire State Building in 1930 showing workers without modern safety equipment, taking risks as they built the iconic skyscraper. Scaffolding, impact wrenches, and loose boards are visible, with captions noting the lack of ear protection, fall protection, and safety in general during lunch and other tasks over 80 stories high. The photos were taken by Lewis Wickes Hine to document the construction process.

1. EMPIRE STATE BUILDING Start of work in 1929 (and completed in 1931)

2. “ The Empire State building was built in 1930. Safety won’t be invented until much later.”

3. “ Check size of those impact wrenches… with no ear protection?”

4. “ Fall protection? What are you, some kind of sissy?”

5. “ Move it, move it, this building won’t build itself!”

6. “ Move back a little and that should teeter this beam up in place.”

7. “ Just a jump to the left and I’ll be safely on those loose scaffold boards.”

8. Lunch Time What a great time to just unwind and relieve stress, with no worries???

9. “ Why didn’t I walk on the inside?” Note: Check out the top of the Chrysler building way down there to the right.”

10. “ If this spanner wrench slips and hits me on the nose…I wonder if I will bleed before I hit the sidewalk?” Note: A great view of New York City in 1930, with Central Park at the very top center.

11. Please note the scaffold board the guy on the right is supported on.

12. I have no idea what this guy is doing but sure would be glad that was not my job.

13. Safety work seats and project elevators of the 1930’s.

14. Check the “tricked out” low profile tires on the “dragster” truck, 1930 model.

15. This was back in an era when real men built real big things, from the Empire State Building to the Hoover Dam, using the power of their back, muscles and sweat. Aren’t you glad those times have changed? These photos were taken by Lewis Wickes Hine