Research Paper On The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

Leah Galloway
History 2200

Pr. Weintz

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire On March 25th, 1911, one of the most deadliest industrial disasters took place in Manhattan, New York City. Killing more than 145 workers, The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire is remembered to be one of the most monstrous incidents in American industrial history. The many deaths were predominately preventable, and most of the victims died from carelessness of the owners and almost non-existent factory regulations. This never forgotten tragedy led to the advancement of factory regulations and a series of laws that helped better protect the safety of workers all around the globe. The Triangle Factory, located in the top three floors of the Asch Building, on the corner

The manager at the time of the fire attempted to put to the fire using a fire hose but it was unsuccessful, as the hose was rusted shut from not being used. As the fire began to spread, panic began to increase. The frantic workers ran to the elevator but it could only hold 12 people at a time, and could only make 4 trips until it broke down due to the heat of the flames. Others fled to the stairs, only to find a locked door, many were burned alive. Many girls took a drastic measure and plunged out the windows to their deaths, the dead jumpers piled up along the cement. The bodies of the jumpers fell on the firehoses, making it difficult to put out the fire. The lucky few who were on the floors above the fire, including the owners, escaped to the roof and then to adjoining buildings. The girls who did not make it to the escape routes were burned alive. Within 18 minutes, 145 workers died by burns, suffocation to smoke, and jumping out of the windows. The horrifying tragedy led to a workers union march on April 5th, on New York’s Fifth Avenue to protest the harsh working conditions that led to the fateful fire — 80,000 people

Including women's rights, workers rights, workplace safety, fire codes and immigrant issues. Before the fire, there were little to no worker regulations, leading to worker injury and death. The only safety measures available to workers at the workplace were 27 buckets of water and an unreliable fire escape. Most of the doors were locked from the outside, making it almost impossible to escape in time of disaster. After the fire, it was almost impossible for the government not to institute laws to protect workers. The ILGWU (International Ladies Garment Workers Union) were at the forefront pushing for reforms. Thanks to the ILGWU, real changes got underway and their conclusions set new standards that other states followed and built upon in the years following. This union gained thousands of new members around the country and helped lobby for strict safety regulations in the workplace and later were passed during the administration of President Roosevelt. Once the New York legislature enacted safety laws, other states followed their lead. The New York State legislature created the Factory Investigating Commission to investigate factory conditions which led to 38 new laws regulating labor in New