Comparing Working Conditions as You See Them Today with That of 1815

Comparing working conditions as you see them today with that of 1815 (this is the instructor’s question for you to answer. You can review the chapter thoroughly before answering it! But you find the answer in not in the textbook! You need to think outside the box! You might want to do additional research and this includes looking beyond your textbook).

Question #2: Identify and discuss some of the differences between general working conditions today and those prevalent in the early days of the Industrial Revolution.

During the Industrial Revolution children’s wages and hours was little or no pay Average

working hours: 12-14 hrs per day Same as adults Some worked up to 19 hours Horrible

conditions same dangers adult males endured Large heavy dangerous equipment many

accidents. There was no OSHA, any workers right. There was no government manditated

minimum wage per hour so employers paid whatever they wanted to keep their workers.

Common safety hazards in factories were machinery that chopped off fingers or hands

and women in hoop skirts were especially vulnerable due to their attire. There was no

proper safety training or precautions. If a worker was injured beyond the ability to

continue to work, they were just let go without compensation. Coal miners dealt with

lung problems due to inadequate ventilation, noxious gasses and poor lighting conditions.

Black lung was the most common health problem.

Today in the industrial environments, there are plenty governments programs, unions and

many