Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire and industrial safety reform

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of March 25, 1911 was a major industrial disaster in which 146 garment workers (mostly girls) died. The fire led to improved factory safety standards and better work place conditions. (Linder, 2002; "The Triangle ... "2004)

The Shirtwaist Factory was located in the top 3 floors of a 10-floor New York City building. The company employed about 500 workers, mostly low-paid young immigrant girls who worked 14-hour days. The factory had witnessed a major strike in 1909 due to unsatisfactory working conditions. It followed poor safety standards: stored flammable material, smoking was common, no fire extinguishers were provided. ("Triangle Shirtwaist ... " 2005)

The Fire:

The fire started on the 8th floor near the closing time on March 25, 1911. The 10th floor was alerted but the 9th floor could not be alerted in time. Most of the workers on the 9th and 10th floor managed to evacuate while those on the 9th floor got trapped. There were only 4 escape routes from the 9th floor: a stairwell opening into Greene Street, a fire escape, a one-passenger elevator and a stairwell leading to Washington Place. The Greene Street stairwell was engulfed in fire, the fire escape soon collapsed and the elevator ceased to work. The door opening into the Washington place was locked and opened inwards. Most workers on the 9th floor were, therefore, trapped. A total of 146 died in the fire, 60 of them jumping to their deaths 9 floors below. ("Triangle Shirtwaist ... " 2005; Linder 2002)

4. The Aftermath: