20/06/2026
SAFETY THEN & NOW
We work in a high risk industry, and people's lives are in our hands every day. That's why working safely is the only way we work. But, we remember a far more 'macho' time, when hard hats were optional, 'riding the hook' was a thing, safety boots were non-existent, wearing a harness was a sign of weakness, and going to the pub at lunch then back to work to operate heavy machinery was the norm.
To be frank, when we think of some of the things our industry did back then, especially with big cranes working in the city, we feel a bit sick.
Thankfully, the construction industry is a far safer place today than it was even just a few decades ago.
(1) CHIFLEY SQUARE, SYDNEY (1988)
📷 Rolly Dimitrovski
(2) CROWN SYDNEY (2020)
📷 James D Morgan, Getty