General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Credit to Geraldo Rivera for this. Who were ON the Key Bridge? [View all]Chainfire
(17,549 posts)Over 1,000 constructions died on the job last year compared to 120 cops. The cops deaths also include car accidents. Maintaining and building your homes, offices and highways is dangerous. None of construction workers killed get bagpipes or parades few of them will have a pension or any support for the survivors other than SS benefits. The undocumented bridge worker's families won't get the SS either. Nobody, but family morns the loss of construction trash. I know this because I worked in construction for 40 years, most of which was on building sites. I will say this; I never whined, when I left home before daylight, that I knew that I may never see my family again... I was fortunate and careful, I made it through the whole time with no serious injuries; I came close, but always dodged the bullets.
I doubt that there could have been anything done to prevent the deaths of the bridge workers. The bridge dropped like it had been pole axed (which it had) The ship's mayday call came shortly before the ship hit, the workers did't have a clue what was coming, if they had a minute's warning, it may not have been enough to get clear and there wouldn't have been any system in place to give the the warning anyway.
I am heartbroken for the killed workers and their families. I worked shoulder to shoulder with undocumented aliens and I have all of the respect in the world for them. The people that I worked with worked hard, worked smart and were very productive, they didn't miss time and they didn't complain. For the most part, they are good family men, and women, working any hours offered, who live as cheaply as possible to be able to send money home to wives and children, trying to provide a better life...The American Dream.