Final answer:
William Crawford Gorgas came up with a way to save thousands of workers' lives by implementing measures to control mosquito populations and reduce the spread of diseases during the construction of the Panama Canal.
Step-by-step explanation:
The person who came up with a way to save thousands of workers' lives is William Crawford Gorgas. Gorgas was a physician and an expert in tropical diseases. He was appointed as the chief sanitary officer during the construction of the Panama Canal. Gorgas implemented a series of measures to control mosquito populations and reduce the spread of diseases such as malaria and yellow fever. His efforts were successful in saving thousands of workers' lives and enabling the completion of the Panama Canal.