One hundred and eight years ago this week, on March 25, 1911, a fire broke out at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City due to unsafe sweatshop conditions and killed 146 garment workers, the majority of which were young immigrant women. Many basic fire prevention and other workplace safety measures were not required by law and not in practice at the factory. The tragedy catalyzed radical, progressive labor and worker safety reforms, including the enactment of many of the workplace safety laws and fire codes that protect workers today.
