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Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangle_Shirtwaist_Factory_fire

Date March 25, 1911
Time 4:40 PM (local time)
Location Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
Injuries 71
Death(s) 146

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City on March 25, 1911, was the deadliest industrial disaster in the history of the city of New York and resulted in the fourth highest loss of life from an industrial accident in U.S. history. It was also the second deadliest disaster in New York City – after the burning of the General Slocum on June 15, 1904 – until the destruction of the World Trade Center 90 years later. The fire caused the deaths of 146 garment workers, who died from the fire, smoke inhalation, or falling to their deaths. Most of the victims were recent Jewish and Italian immigrant women aged sixteen to twenty-three;[1][2][3] of the victims whose age is known, the oldest victim was Providenza Panno at 48, and the youngest was 11 year old Mary Goldstein.[4]

Because the managers had locked the doors to the stairwells and exits – a common practice at the time to prevent pilferage and unauthorized breaks[5] – many of the workers who could not escape the burning building jumped from the eighth, ninth, and tenth floors to the streets below. The fire led to legislation requiring improved factory safety standards and helped spur the growth of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union, which fought for better working conditions for sweatshop workers.

The factory was located in the Asch Building, at 23-29 Washington Place, now known as the Brown Building, which has been designated a National Historic Landmark and a New York City landmark.[6]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamlet_chicken_processing_plant_fire

Just about any industrial fire with massive loss of life will have two things in common: employers with no regard for anything but money, and a list of safety violations as long as your arm.

The same goes for entertainment disasters...the rock club in Rhode Island that roasted 101 people was soundproofed with cheap packing foam and the ceiling tiles were painted with roof coating. Throw in fire doors you couldn't see and complete disregard for occupancy limits and you're surprised it took that long to happen.

If one positive thing came out of that horrific event, it was the strengthening of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (as well as other Unions) and the adoption of humane labor laws.

Let's hope something similar happens in Bangladesh.

countries that dont force them to be safe

How absolutely horrible. May their souls rest in peace.

The corprats hate unions and regulations so bad they have their stuff made elsewhere. And what happens? The same horrible disasters that happened here in the U.S. that gave rise to unions and occupational and safety regulations here that they don't want to be bothered with and never have. So they go to China. Bangladesh. Viet Nam. Anywhere they don't have to treat workers like humans or worry about safety or environmental regulations.

Spoiled. Greedy. Brats. That's what they are. And unfortunately, they own our government and control the world.

Citizens United. Keystone XL. The TPP. All of it. At the behest of these corprats. They think they own and control the planet and everyone and everything on it - especially all the money. Or at least that they should. And they won't be happy until they do.

Goddamned dirtbags.

the power to hinder such operations or to improve them?

The answer of course is ALL of us who purchase the goods they produce.