In past decades, employers didn’t give much thought to making their workplaces safe for employees. In 1911, one of the most devastating workplace accidents in U.S. history forever changed fire safety in the workplace. In March 1911, 145 workers were killed when a fire broke out in the Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory in Manhattan.
What was working conditions in Triangle Shirtwaist Factory?
Working conditions were so bad that the women didn’t even have access to a bathroom in the building, and doors were locked so that they couldn’t go outside and slow down production. And though the place was filled with highly flammable materials, there was little attention paid to fire prevention.
Why did the Workers of the Triangle Factory Die?
The Triangle Factory workers died because of weak safety measures, and more than 100 years later, we still have a long way to go. Congress and agencies need to improve and enforce the laws and regulations. Violators need to be held accountable for the safety and security of all workers.
Who was Secretary of labor during Triangle Shirtwaist fire?
The social impact of the fire was heightened by the thousands of New Yorkers who witnessed the horror, including Frances Perkins – who became the Secretary of Labor under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Photo source: International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union Archives, Kheel Center, Cornell University
