Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

In the early years of the twentieth century, conditions were harsh in factories all over New York City, but they proved devastating at one in particular. On March 25, 1911, a fast-moving fire destroyed the top three floors of the building in which the Triangle Shirtwaist factory was located. One hundred and forty-six young women and several men died in the worst workplace disaster to take place in the United States to that date. Cluttered and unsanitary conditions in the factory contributed to the blaze, but what fueled the public's outrage was the failure of the factory's owners to establish and maintain a safe working environment in the first place. The fire at the Triangle factory inspired dozens of reforms and spurred legislation to enforce workplace safety. It also contributed to an awakening attitude of social awareness and responsibility nationwide. Book jacket.Lange, Brenda is the author of 'Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire', published 2008 under ISBN 9780791096413 and ISBN 0791096416.