The Industrial Revolution and the Subsequent Increase in Work Related Accidents
Author: John Published Under: History
The Industrial Revolution began in 1760 and involved the application of new technology, like the steam engine, to manufacturing processes. Within 50 years of the start of the industrial revolution, industries like the textile industry were literally manufacturing goods 100 times faster than before. This not only had an impact on these industries, but also spread to other unrelated industries, as humans could become more specialized, using an automated processes for the basics. However, like most types of technology, there are a number of negative sides to the changes brought by the industrial revolution, with an increase in accidents and poor working conditions being one of the most pervasive.
Work Related Accidents Prior to the Industrial Revolution
Prior to the industrial revolution, most manufacturing took place on a much smaller scale, often in homes, rather than factories. There were of course accidents, such as falls or those related to animals, but usually health concerns were more centered around long-term effects, such as arthritis that could be caused by repetitive motions of sewing or from lead poising.
A Whole New Type of Work Related Health Risks
One of the key components of the industrial revolution was to use mechanical engines to make work easier. As a result of this change, the factory worker was born, who to this day is still fighting to ensure safe working conditions.
With the move to factories and mechanical engines, there was of course many moving parts that were moving quickly and with tremendous power. As a result, injuries at work became much more common and much more serious. Lost limbs, broken bones, and burns became much more common, with workers rarely having any protection or even voice at first.
In early factories, child labor was common, in large part because the small hands of the children were better suited to repairing the machinery. It was common practice to have workers fix a machine while it was still running, which was a common cause of lost fingers. It was very rare for moving parts to be sectioned off, so even just walking around the factory, the average worker was exposed to many risks.
In the early years, employers rarely made any effort to protect their workers and injuries and death were common place.
The Birth of the Union
It would take over a hundred years for the governments of the European and American Nations to begin to implement any sort of regulation to industrial manufacturing and this was in large part due to the fact that workers began to organize themselves into labor unions.
The workers realized that the only way to be heard by the factory owners was to organize into the group, as individual voices were easy to ignore, but a unified voice could effect change. To this end, strikes became more common, with trade unions shutting down plants until safety concerns were met.
Of course, this would be a continual battle, that is still being fought, especially in countries were the industrial revolution was late to begin.