Steel, strikes and spider-men: Steel erectors and the Daily Herald

were all terms used to describe the trade with the highest accident rates in the building industry. These men constructed steel frameworks for skyscrapers and other major infrastructure projects. Their work helped to transform Britain's urban landscapes

These photographs were originally taken for the Labour-affiliated Daily Herald newspaper (1912–64), which published many of these images alongside stories advocating for labour reforms.

Our story begins with engineer Henry Bessemer, who introduced an experimental smelting process in 1856. By blowing air directly into molten pig iron, he bonded oxygen with carbon impurities. The result? Pure iron and the potential to mass produce high-quality steel.

The architectural applications were incredible. Bolting, riveting and welding together ‘steel structural members’ created possibilities for stronger, taller structures on increasingly large scales.

In 1965, this 74-ton mild steel plated I-beam was the largest girder in Britain.

New materials and construction techniques required skilled labourers. We don’t know much about the workers featured in this series of uncaptioned photos. Nevertheless, they provide a glimpse of the range of tasks undertaken by steel erectors.


Tasks like reading building plans...

Such tasks are far from ordinary when accomplished high above a city street without a safety net. 

Scotch derricks are favoured for building in urban areas and on jobs that require lift capacity over lengthy periods of time. But getting one into place is no small feat! The seven-ton jib-arm must be hoisted from ground level by another crane and positioned by steel erectors.

Cold, wind and rain all make jobs like feeding cable through the jib-arm of a Scotch derrick fraught with risks. This crane is located on the 19th floor of the CIS Tower.

Here, hard-hat-wearing Tony O’Donoghue faces the camera and makes a case for industry reforms that prioritise worker safety. As well as documenting how 20th-century cities were shaped, images from the Daily Herald serve as reminders of the dangers faced by those who work on high.