Workers at Andreco-Hurll Refractory Services have been offered counselling after three of their colleagues were killed and one seriously injured in the tragic accident at Unanderra on Friday night.
Victims Roach Bannerman, 19, Aaron Sinadinovic, 24, Adam Nall, 27, and survivor Daniel Schroeder, 21, all worked as refractory bricklayers with the Bulli-based company in which Mr Schroeder's father, Uwe, was a manager.
A friend of an Andreco-Hurll employee told the Mercury that the three oldest men had completed their apprenticeships at the company, while the youngest, Mr Bannerman was in his second year.
"The guys have really pulled together - they are putting together a fund to spread among the families to try and help them out a bit," the friend said.
"Morale is pretty low and the company is really just trying to pull together and they have counsellors there at the moment."
The friend said the company's 30 or so bricklayers, who worked at coke ovens on the BlueScope site, were a close-knit bunch who worked 12-hour shifts together.
"The hours that they spend together are unbelievable and they really are very close," the friend said.
"The job that they do is very high danger, working in heats of up to 1200 degrees, so they really rely on each other and watch their backs and are really, really close.
"They just hope that Daniel gets back to work as soon as possible."
The Mercury understands a dozen or so Andreco-Hurll employees, including those involved in the car accident, had been having a post-work drink at the Unanderra Hotel on Friday evening.
The four men were understood to be on their way home about 7.15pm when the accident occurred.
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