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Labor Conditions in the 19th Century

Industrial Revolution, Metallurgy, Working Conditions

The Industrial Revolution started in England, expanded to other European countries, and then finally to the United States. The Industrial Revolution spanned from 1760 to 1850. It was marked by technological, social, and economical changes. As technological changes came about, the way durable goods were changed, which brought about the introduction of factories (Industrial Revolution, 2001).

The invention of the steam, engine which converted heat energy into mechanical, helped lead the way towards mass production. Steam engines were fueled in various ways including wood, coal, and petroleum. Later, with the invention or discovery of electricity, a different type of steam engine converted mechanical energy into electricity (Industrial Revolution, 2001).

During the second half of the eighteenth century, the population of the major European countries increased by as much as one hundred percent. Capitalists continuously looked for ways to improve profits so wages earned by the man of the household typically could not meet the needs of his larger family (Industrial Revolution, 2001). In all but the highest of class families, working members included wives and children (McKay, n.d.).

The working conditions were terrible with no one in authority to regulate the factory owners or the rigorous demands they imposed on the factory workers. Most workers were in the factory six or seven days a week, working thirteen to fifteen hours a day. This would lead to chronic fatigue, which made them less alert and subject to injury or death from the machines that they operated. Many times, workers were placed in the position of operating machines with little or no training, which also led to injuries. If a worker became incapacitated due to working conditions, he or she did not receive any compensation, nor did the factory owners pay them for time off from work (McKay, n.d.).

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Workers did not receive any protection from poor air quality or exposure to chemicals. It was common for women to become infertile and for children to develop deformities. The machinery was very noisy and without hearing protection, many workers suffered partial or total hearing loss (McKay, n.d.).

Not all factories owners treated workers harshly or exposed them to unhealthy environments. However, this was at an era where technology underwent some sharp changes and the use of technology of changing iron ore to workable steel, which led to various types of metallurgy, and the world, as most people knew it, changed within the span of a decade or two (Industrial Revolution, 2001).

Women and children were especially favored as workers by factory owners because they would usually follow orders better, whereby a man might stand up and speak up for himself. Children were ordered to climb on and around moving machinery as they were smaller and could get around easier. Both women and children were favored for use in coalmine shafts because they could crawl around in smaller and tighter places. The pay was very low for most of the factory workers, but women and children earned less than the men did (McKay, n.d.).

Working conditions and pay were not very good in Europe during the nineteenth century. There are laws that protect children and specify working environment safety. There probably are some violations occurring and when caught, factory owners must correct any violations and possibly pay fines. Still, each worker must take the responsibility and work together as a group if new conditions arise that pose as a hazard in the factory or other work place.

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Factory owners cannot correct something if they do not know that there is a problem. This does not abdicate factory owners of their responsibility. The factory owner should take a pro-active stance towards workplace safety, but that does not mean they will discover every possible hazard.

References:

Industrial Revolution. (2001). In World of Sociology, Gale. Farmington, MI: Thomson Gale. Retrieved January 21, 2009 from http://www.credoreference.com/entry/4785479/.

McKay. (n.d.). A history of world societies, 6th edition. Retrieved January 22, 2009 from http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/distance/hist/un6.htm