The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

This assignment delves into the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire of 1911, exploring its causes, consequences, and lasting impact. Students analyze the video footage to understand the conditions that led to the disaster and its role in shaping labor reforms and workplace safety regulations. The assignment also examines the social implications of the fire within the context of urban sociology in New York City.

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The Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire video and its importance to the labor movement
Substance of the video on the triangle shirtwaist factory fire: what was the topic addressed in the
video
After the long duration, it may not seem that the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire that
occurred over the century ago in the city of New York would be relevant in present days, but it is
essential in labor movement. The topic addressed in the video is the tragedy that occurs typically
in different workplaces (Adelman 37). The tragedy as presented in the video opened the nation’s
eye by focusing on the poor conditions of work in garment factories as well as other working
sectors and set in motion in the historical era of labor reforms. The video shows one of the
darkest moment in the industrial history of the United States, the Triangle Shirtwaist Company
factory in the city of New York that burns down resulting in the death of one hundred and forty-
five workers on the day in 1911 (Andersen 1). The video is also relevant because it leads to
appropriate plan to address the factors that affect poor working conditions in different places. It
led to the growth of the cycles of policies along with laws that improved the security of
employees within factories.
Significance of video topic on the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire as it focused on a particular
area of urban sociology

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The problem of poor working conditions in various factories as presented in the video has
been of great significance to operations of companies on the urban sociology in the New York
City. The authority in the city has remained to focus on working on restricting laws and obeying
the labor along with workplace safety laws that were enactable in the years following the tragedy
of Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire (Pertschuk 1782). Besides, the government has adequately
focused on enforcing these laws making the workers have life insurance covers as they work in
different companies. The video has led to the improvement of urban sociology in the New York
City because there are many adjustments in regulations that the authorities had focused on to
improve the efficient rules to ensure that the wellbeing of employees is place above process.
Some significant points coming from the video on the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire tragedy
Triangle Shirtwaist plant fire remains to be event remembered as one of the most
infamous incidents in the history of American Industry (Jensen 2). From the video, it is also
evident that the losses of lives were mostly avoidable as nearly all casualtys’ succumbed because
of neglected safety features as well as protected and locked entryies and exits within the building
of the factory (Rockman 127). Besides, Triangle Shirtwaist plant fire tragedy brought common
awareness to the risky sweatshop operations and circumstances of industrial units.The disaster
led to the expansion of chains of rules along with convections that aid in protecting protection of
employees.
How video on the Triangle Shirtwaist plant fire either offers solution to the problem or includes
some ideas that might lead to an eventual solution to the issue
The tragedy offers ideas that might lead to the possible solution to fire disaster like the
need to have a proper plan during construction of a building that can hold the weight above the

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few female workers can by the time. From the video, it is evident that during the fire, there exist
only four elevators with entrnce to the floors of factory, although only a single was equiped to
operate and was able to hold at least twelve people at the time (Margolis 1). Therefore, from the
video, it is necessary for the management of factories located on high floors of the building to
ensure that every elevator is operational and can be able to carry more people that can apply to
the exit path in case of occurrences of dangers like fire. Besides, Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire
tragedy offers ideas that might lead to the eventual solution of the issue such as ensuring that
every company constructs appropriate stairways down to the street (Walter 57). The management
f the company also has the mandate of ensuring that every stairway down to the road remains
open to allow free access and leaving the company. In case of theft by workers, there is a need to
employ the security guard to guard the gates of the factory rather than closing the stairways that
can be applicable as escaping routes by workers in case of occurrences of the tragedy like fire.

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Works Cited
Adelman, Steven A., [e-mail]. "Run, Hide Fight." TD&T: Theatre
Design & Technology, vol. 52, no. 4, Fall2016, pp. 30-41. EBSCOhost,
search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aft&AN=119758207&site=ehost-live.
Andersen, Elizabeth. "American Experience." Library Media Connection, vol. 30, no. 3,
Nov/Dec2011, p. 96. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=buh&AN=67788050&site=ehost-live.
Jensen, Robin E., et al. "Photojournalism and the Pursuit of Social Justice." Communication
Currents, vol. 6, no. 6, Dec. 2011, pp. 1-2. EBSCOhost,
search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ufh&AN=70713414&site=ehost-live.
Margolis, Tina, et al. "CONSTRUCTED MEMORY and the PARADOX of EMPATHY:
Reconsidering an Image of the Triangle Fire." Afterimage, vol. 39, no. 1/2, Jul-Aug2011,
pp. 25-28. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=aph&AN=65145476&site=ehost-live.
Pertschuk, Mark1, [e-mail], et al. "Grassroots Movement Building and
Preemption in the Campaign for Residential Fire Sprinklers." American Journal of Public
Health, vol. 103, no. 10, Oct. 2013, pp. 1780-1787. EBSCOhost,
doi:10.2105/AJPH.2013.301317
Rockman, Connie. "Flesh & Blood so Cheap: The Triangle Fire and Its Legacy." Booklist, vol.
109, no. 9/10, 1/1/2013, p. 127. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=aph&AN=84769829&site=ehost-live.

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Walter, Laura. "A Century of Safety with ASSE." EHS Today, vol. 4, no. 6, June 2011, pp. 55-
58. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=buh&AN=63024339&site=ehost-live.