On March 25, 1911 New York City experienced one of the worst industrial accidents in history: 146 garment workers, mostly immigrant women, died in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. Workers were blocked from exiting and fire ladders could not reach the floors that they were on. This horrific incident led to formation of the American Society of Safety Engineers and numerous workplace safety reforms.
TPT Television (public television station) is airing an episode of The American Experience focusing on the fire and its aftermath. It airs tonight, Feb 28, at 8 pm and March 1 at 2 am.