Thesis

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire: From Tragedy to Reform

Sarah Elsherbini, Noora Mahmoud, and Faqiha Faheem
Senior Group Website
Word Count: 1200 words
Media Count: 2:58 minutes
​​​​​​​Process Paper: 500 words

Thesis

The 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire marked a turning point in workplace safety and labor laws. It exposed the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers: workers deserve a safe environment and must follow safety rules, while employers must provide these. In response, government agencies like OSHA and the fire department began creating and enforcing labor laws. The fire’s legacy still shapes today’s workplace protections and highlights the need to safeguard workers' rights. 

"Near closing time on March 25, 1911, a fire broke out at the Triangle Waist Factory in New York City. Within 18 minutes, 146 people were dead as a result of the fire" (Cornell University).