First Draft:
Brooklyn Bridge Caissons
Juliene Rios
The City College of New York
ENGL 21007: Writing for Engineering
Professor Suzanne Weyn
February 25, 2023
When looking at the great metropolis of New York City, it is almost impossible not to be mesmerized by the great landmarks that are retained. Whether that is the ginormous skyscrapers, exquisite museums, or beautifully laid out business complexes, one can be almost certain that they will not be short of awe when visiting such a divine architectural land. But as for the residents who live here, a large portion of the population may not feel the same sense of amazement as they have grown accustomed to seeing these wonders in their day-to-day lives. Simply, many locals do not cherish the very fact that they reside in a colossal of American architecture. No matter one’s stance on this matter, the question of how such sites were constructed definitely transpired in the minds of individuals at some point (even if it was brief) as it is difficult not to take note of due to its superb presence. One of those grand sites is the Brooklyn Bridge which brought Europe’s concept of caissons to the new world.
The Brooklyn Bridge is an amazing feat of what humans were able to accomplish in the mid-to-late 1800s considering the fact that they were seemingly not as technologically advanced as a society nowadays. Laborers who were predominantly men had to sacrifice their well-being and even lives throughout the entire process of building this bridge. Many perished because of the project including John Roebling, the founding engineer of the bridge, due to developing tetanus after his foot was struck by a boat. Other deaths resulted from falling, fragments falling on top of them, and a new phenomenon at the time known as “the bends.” The bends would later be identified as caisson disease or decompression disease which would result from the air pressure change within the large box-like figures that would support the bridge as a pillar from the ocean’s floor. “Physician Andrew H. Smith, a throat specialist, was charged with caring for the well-being of the men working on the Brooklyn Bridge. As other physicians had previously noted, Smith observed 86 cases of caisson disease with the common symptoms of joint pain, headache, pruritus, shortness of breath, paralysis, and vomiting…Like Jaminet, he also recorded that workers in the caissons would experience a drastic increase in heart rate, perspiration, and diuresis.” (Ninokawa, S., & Nordham, K. 2021) This anecdote represents the severity of the disease. Specialists such as Smith had to be present on the worksite to treat the common occurrence of workers being in great pain predominantly because of the caissons. In addition, cases such as these became so prevalent that Washington Roebling (John Roebling’s son who took over the project after his father’s passing) came to a risky conclusion of settling the bottom of the caisson on the New York side of the bridge on the sand and gravel which he found through testing to be reliable in avoiding the caisson to stumble and ultimately topple everything over; In essence, Washington wanted to avoid digging any deeper so that he could avoid losing men both to the forces of the caisson and those who desired to resign because of their fear of entering the dangerous circumstances.
Because of the concept of caissons was newly acquired during the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, it was difficult to understand the true reasoning as to why the illness was encountered in the first place. Expected measures were taken in order to prevent the illness by giving laborers the opportunity to work shorter shifts, ventilation, requirement of wearing helmets, safety gear, and the addition of safety ropes so that they could be pulled out as soon as possible in the event of a disaster. Although measures such as these were taken it evidently was not enough as the true preliminary cause of the bends could not be solved causing several individuals to suffer its consequences. This question loomed in the minds of scientists for decades after the Brooklyn Bridge’s finalization as it evidently had major complications. “All decompression sickness cases should have initial treatment with 100% oxygen until HBO therapy is available… Fluid administration is indicated, as this helps minimize dehydration…If the patient experiences an altered mental status or is unconscious, initial management should focus on the treatment and stabilization of ABCs, (airway, breathing, and circulation)…Patients that need evacuation to a definitive treatment center by aeromedical transport should fly on pressurized aircraft… flight altitude should be limited to 300 m or 1000 ft if possible.” (Cooper 2022) The depth and duration of the dive, the pace of ascent, and individual factors like age, fitness level, and pre-existing medical issues all affect how severe the disease is. It is significant to remember that the severity of caisson disease can vary, and even a case that initially seems moderate can swiftly worsen if untreated. Caisson disease symptoms should be treated seriously, and those who exhibit them should see a doctor/medical expert as soon as possible.
Decompression illness was common by those who labored within caissons but also deep sea divers. “the air inhaled at depth is inhaled at the higher ambient pressure underwater. Pressurized gasses dissolve in the blood. Upon ascent, the gasses in the blood (mostly nitrogen, since air is mostly nitrogen) rapidly expand, forming bubbles. Those bubbles lodge themselves in joints, the nervous system, and other unpleasant places. The condition can be fatal. Divers who remain at depth form must ascend slowly, in stages, to allow the pressure to equalize and re-dissolve the gas.” (MacDonald 2018) The same ideology is applied to those in the caisson because of a similar environment. When inside a caisson (especially one described during the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge) the air/oxygen quality is not significant by any means. Workers had to work in small, dim spaces, frequently with no ventilation and no access to natural light, for hours at a time. The task was extremely burdensome, and the employees had to dig through mud and bedrock using hand equipment like shovels and picks. Water seepage was another issue they had to deal with because it may flood the caissons and increase the chance of injuries or drowning. In addition to the physical risks, the employees inside the caissons of the Brooklyn Bridge were also exposed to extremely high and low temperatures, as well as high amounts of dust and debris in the air, which put them at risk for respiratory issues. Despite these difficulties, the miners/construction workers persisted and managed to finish building the Brooklyn Bridge, with their ultimate sacrifice being overlooked.
References:
Cooper, Jeffrey S., and Kenneth C. Hanson. “Decompression Sickness – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf.” Decompression Sickness – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf, 10 Aug. 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537264.
Ninokawa, S., & Nordham, K. (2021). Discovery of caisson disease: a dive into the
history of decompression sickness. Proceedings (Baylor University. Medical Center), 35(1), 129-132. https://doi.org/10.1080/08998280.2021.1967021
Final Draft:
Brooklyn Bridge Caissons
Juliene Rios
The City College of New York
ENGL 21007: Writing for Engineering
Professor Suzanne Weyn
February 25, 2023
When looking at the great metropolis of New York City, it is almost impossible not to be mesmerized by the great landmarks that are retained. Whether that is the ginormous skyscrapers, exquisite museums, or beautifully laid out business complexes, one can be almost certain that one will not be short of awe when visiting such a divine architectural land. But as for the residents who live here, a large portion of the population may not feel the same amazement as they have grown accustomed to seeing these wonders in their day-to-day lives. Simply, many locals do not cherish the very fact that they reside in a colossal of American architecture. No matter one’s stance on this matter, the question of how such sites were constructed transpired in the minds of individuals at some point (even if it was brief) as it is difficult not to take note of due to its superb presence. One of those grand sites is the Brooklyn Bridge which brought Europe’s concept of caissons to the new world.
The Brooklyn Bridge is an amazing feat of what humans were able to accomplish in the mid-to-late 1800s because they were seemingly not as technologically advanced as a society nowadays. Laborers who were predominantly men had to sacrifice their well-being and even lives throughout the entire process of building this bridge. Many perished because of the project including John Roebling, the founding engineer of the bridge, due to developing tetanus after his foot was struck by a boat. Other deaths resulted from falling, fragments falling on top of them, and a new phenomenon at the time known as “the bends.” The bends would later be identified as caisson disease or decompression disease which would result from the air pressure change within the large box-like figures that would support the bridge as a pillar from the ocean’s floor. “Physician Andrew H. Smith, a throat specialist, was charged with caring for the well-being of the men working on the Brooklyn Bridge. As other physicians had previously noted, Smith observed 86 cases of caisson disease with the common symptoms of joint pain, headache, pruritus, shortness of breath, paralysis, and vomiting…Like Jaminet, he also recorded that workers in the caissons would experience a drastic increase in heart rate, perspiration, and diuresis.” (Ninokawa, S., & Nordham, K. 2021) This anecdote represents the severity of the disease. Specialists such as Smith had to be present on the worksite to treat the common occurrence of workers being in great pain predominantly because of the caissons. In addition, cases such as these became so prevalent that Washington Roebling (John Roebling’s son who took over the project after his father’s passing) came to a risky conclusion of settling the bottom of the caisson on the New York side of the bridge on the sand and gravel which he found through testing to be reliable in avoiding the caisson to stumble and ultimately topple everything over; In essence, Washington wanted to avoid digging any deeper so that he could avoid losing men both to the forces of the caisson and those who desired to resign because of their fear of entering the dangerous circumstances. (Washington and Emily Roebling. (n.d.). NYC Walks. 2017)
Because the concept of caissons was newly acquired during the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, it was difficult to understand the true reasoning as to why the illness was encountered in the first place. Expected measures were taken in order to prevent the illness by allowing laborers to work shorter shifts, ventilation, the requirement of wearing helmets, safety gear, and the addition of safety ropes so that they could be pulled out as soon as possible in the event of a disaster. Although measures such as these were taken it evidently was not enough as the true preliminary cause of the bends could not be solved causing several individuals to suffer its consequences. This question loomed in the minds of scientists for decades after the Brooklyn Bridge’s finalization as it evidently had major complications. “All decompression sickness cases should have initial treatment with 100% oxygen until HBO therapy is available… Fluid administration is indicated, as this helps minimize dehydration…If the patient experiences an altered mental status or is unconscious, initial management should focus on the treatment and stabilization of ABCs, (airway, breathing, and circulation)…Patients that need evacuation to a definitive treatment center by aeromedical transport should fly on pressurized aircraft… flight altitude should be limited to 300 m or 1000 ft if possible.” (Cooper 2022) The depth and duration of the dive, the pace of ascent, and individual factors like age, fitness level, and pre-existing medical issues all affect how severe the disease is. It is significant to remember that the severity of caisson disease can vary, and even a case that initially seems moderate can swiftly worsen if untreated. Caisson disease symptoms should be treated seriously, and those who exhibit them should see a doctor/medical expert as soon as possible.
Decompression illness was common by those who labored within caissons but also deep sea divers. “the air inhaled at depth is inhaled at the higher ambient pressure underwater. Pressurized gasses dissolve in the blood. Upon ascent, the gasses in the blood (mostly nitrogen, since air is mostly nitrogen) rapidly expand, forming bubbles. Those bubbles lodge themselves in joints, the nervous system, and other unpleasant places. The condition can be fatal. Divers who remain at depth form must ascend slowly, in stages, to allow the pressure to equalize and re-dissolve the gas.” (MacDonald 2018) The same ideology is applied to those in the caisson because of a similar environment. When inside a caisson (especially one described during the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge) the air/oxygen quality is not significant by any means. Workers had to work in small, dim spaces, frequently with no ventilation and no access to natural light, for hours at a time. The task was extremely burdensome, and the employees had to dig through mud and bedrock using hand equipment like shovels and picks. Water seepage was another issue they had to deal with because it may flood the caissons and increase the chance of injuries or drowning. In addition to the physical risks, the employees inside the caissons of the Brooklyn Bridge were also exposed to extremely high and low temperatures, as well as high amounts of dust and debris in the air, which put them at risk for respiratory issues. Despite these difficulties, the miners/construction workers persisted and managed to finish building the Brooklyn Bridge, with their ultimate sacrifice being overlooked. (Sandhog: Building the Brooklyn Bridge, 2005)
In summary, the caisson disease, also known as the bends, had a profound impact on the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. The dangerous and deadly disease affected many workers who built the bridge’s foundations using the caisson method, which involved working in high-pressure environments. The disease’s effects ranged from minor joint pain to paralysis and even death. Despite the dangers, the workers persisted, and the bridge was completed in 1883, becoming an iconic landmark of New York City. The lessons learned from the experience of the Brooklyn Bridge construction contributed to improving safety measures and medical treatments for the bends, making future construction projects safer for workers. The caisson disease remains a cautionary tale, highlighting the importance of prioritizing worker safety in construction projects.
References:
Cooper, Jeffrey S., and Kenneth C. Hanson. “Decompression Sickness – StatPearls –
NCBI Bookshelf.” Decompression Sickness – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf, 10 Aug. 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537264.
Ninokawa, S., & Nordham, K. (2021). Discovery of caisson disease: a dive into the
history of decompression sickness. Proceedings (Baylor University. Medical Center), 35(1), 129-132. https://doi.org/10.1080/08998280.2021.1967021
“Sandhog: Building the Brooklyn Bridge, 1871”, EyeWitness to History,
www.eyewitnesstohistory.com (2005).
Washington and Emily Roebling. (n.d.). NYC Walks. (2017)
