Industrial tragedy sparked formation of now 100-year-old ASSE

The American Society of Safety Engineers is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The formation of this important safety organization with more than 33,000 members can be linked back to a singular tragic event, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire.

The Triangle Shirtwaist Company occupied the top three floors of the 10-story Asch Building in Manhattan. The company employed about 500 workers who typically labored more than 50 hours over a six-day workweek sewing blouses. The garment workers were mostly young, European immigrant women. On March 25, 1911, fire broke out on the eighth floor and quickly spread due to the huge amount of fabric scraps around work spaces.

There was access to two freight elevators, two stairways and a fire escape but flames stopped workers from descending one stairway and the door to the other stairway was locked by managers to prevent theft. The two elevator operators saved many lives by quickly returning to the flame-engulfed floors but were forced to abandon their efforts when the elevators became inoperable from the fire's heat.

The fire department arrived quickly, but the ladders could only reach the sixth floor. All firemen could do was use their hoses from the street. By now the workers still trapped were forced to the windows. Some climbed onto the iron fire escape which quickly twisted and collapsed from the heat plunging victims 100 feet to their death. Others climbed onto the window sills, only to look down, pause for a moment and jump. Those who hesitated too long plummeted to the sidewalk in flames. The few life nets the firemen had were immediately torn through by the impact of falling bodies. As workers continued to jump to their deaths policemen, firemen and bystanders could only watch helplessly in horror. By the time the fire was extinguished 129 women and 17 men had perished.

In response to the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, the state legislature created the Factory Investigating Committee which identified more than 200 factories in New York with similar conditions. The committee's report helped to standardize and modernize the state's labor and safety laws. As a result, the American Society of Safety Engineers was founded in New York City October, 14, 1911.

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