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Photos | ‘Lunch atop a skyscraper’ recreated to highlight construction suicides
CM Staff
‘Lunch atop a skyscraper’ was recreated to highlight construction suicides
The famous ‘Lunch atop a skyscraper’ photo has been recreated to highlight the number of people in construction who take their own lives each week.
The original image showed 11 workers sitting on top of a steel beam eating lunch. It was shot 260 metres above ground on the 69th floor of the RCA Building in Manhattan, New York City, in 1932.
IronmongeryDirect recreated the image using 11 dummies clad in hard hats and overalls, suspended on a beam.
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The number of people in the original image (11), which marks its 90th anniversary this year, matches the number of tradespeople who die from suicide every seven days, on average.
IronmongeryDirect’s annual Mental Health in the Trades report found that four in five (82%) of UK tradespeople experience mental health problems due to work.
As part of its campaign, the Essex-based ironmongery supplier has partnered with the mental health charity, Basildon Mind, and is donating over £3,000 to support its crucial services.
Emma Mamo, head of workspace Wellbeing at Mind, said: “In male-dominated industries such as construction, employees are often less willing and able to open up about their mental health and ask for support. This can be problematic because mental health problems often become worse if left untreated, and the consequences can be fatal.
“We urge employers to create cultures where employees can speak openly and honestly about their mental health.”
The January/February 2026 issue of Construction Management magazine is now available to read in digital format.
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