Triangle Factory Fire was the most disastrous accident at workplace in the history of New York City. A deadly fire broke out on 25th March, 1911, in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory that is located in New York's Greenwich Village. 146 people were dead by the time the fire consumed itself out, 146 people were dead (The 1911 Triangle Factory Fire 2011). The main reasons given were that the main door to the stairwell was locked, those who tried to escape by jumping off the building were not saved because fire nets failed to catch them. Many did not know about the fire escape, and those who knew could not use it because it was rusty because of which it collapsed. There was no system of sprinklers for fire emergencies; only buckets were of water were kept which is said by a victim that the buckets were empty on a fateful day.
The incident brought attention to creating workplace safety laws such as installing automatic sprinklers in the high-risk buildings and fire drills were made compulsory. It is said that the fire contributed majorly in forming state based worker compensation system. The People of New York were shocked and outraged. Even editorial cartoons and pictures about the incident depicted the horrendous facts and mocked at severe lacks of the biggest industries. It was hard to believe that something like this could have happened in their city. It made them think what can be done in future to prevent disasters like this again (Greenwald 2011).
The victims were females and immigrants from different parts of the world. Reading the interview with Mary Domsky-Abrams leaves one upset and angry. It is true when she says that there were indirect victims of the fire too. The irony is that the buckets kept for fire emergencies were empty, and she discussed it with her coworkers that how sad it would be if anything happens today, there is no water to save them. Issac Harris and Max Blanck immediately after the fire tried to clear their reputation by insisting that all precautionary measures were taken at the time of the fire. However, the people held them responsible for the disaster and charges of manslaughter of first and second degree were indicated. However, they got free as the public prosecutor could not prove that the men were aware of the secured door at the time of the incident (The 1911 Triangle Factory Fire 2011).
This was unfair and not justifiable. More than 100 witnesses gave their emotional testimony about the incident and still it was not enough to prove that it was owners’ negligence and irresponsible attitude towards the safety of employees. The disaster will keep reminding about the importance of workplace safety measures for years to come.
Works Cited
Greenwald, Judy. "Triangle Shirtwaist fire brought safety changes." businessinsurance. 2011. Web. 8 April. 2016
"The 1911 Triangle Factory Fire." trianglefire. 2011. Web. 8 April. 2016.
