This photograph of President Teddy Roosevelt at the Panama Canal in 1906 hung prominently in our late founder’s office as long as anyone can recall. Charlie “Doc” Collier would wait while visitors examined the photograph’s detail then joined them in a smile of pride at the sight of Roosevelt; wearing his signature Brooks Brothers white suit and Panama hat while sitting on what must have been a very greasy Bucyrus Erie steam shovel. The picture inspired Doc and reminded him of the inexpressible reality of an untrained workforce. When Doc sold his home to finance the start-up of Crane Tech, his goal was to create a business that would stem the tragic losses continuing to plague the 1970’s workforce. Crane and rigging accidents were costing industry billions each year through material losses and wasted downtime. Doc’s vision was to bring safety to the men and women working in the field by educating them to recognize hazards and teaching the skills to work safely and efficiently. This photograph kept Doc focused and helped sustain his drive and the drive for those who hoped to work very long at Crane Tech. Doc was a people person and a driven man who believed in his vision; that all men and women can put in a good days work and return safely to their family at the end of each day.
The photograph depicts an ambitious nation rushing to solve a great problem, and symbolizes the good in the American workforce. But, Doc saw the true cost of the Canal; the pictures of toiling and injured men not taken, the devastation from an undisciplined workforce, and well-meaning workers unprepared to recognize the dangers inherent with construction activity. This photograph reminded Doc that for every fifty miles of canal length more than five-hundred workers died. Doc would say; “Workers is just too matter-of-fact. We’re talking about fathers, brothers, husbands and young men.” Continue Reading…
