The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of March 25, 1911 is largely forgotten now but it is a significant focusing event in the history of industrial safety in the United States. The fire itself was horrible, claiming the lives of 146 workers, mainly immigrant women, making it the fourth highest loss of life in an industrial accident in US history.  What occurred after the fire, however, created major changes that still affect us today.

Background

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in 1911 was one of New York's largest garment manufacturers. The company employed some 500 workers in the manufacture of women's shirtwaist blouses. The majority of the workers were women, mainly Italian and Jewish immigrants.

The work was grueling and the pay low. Employees worked nine hours a day during the week and seven hours on Saturday for the modern equivalent of $3.20 to $5.50 an hour.

The owners of the factory, known as the "shirtwaist kings" were extremely anti-union and were not interested in improving working conditions. They...