New York State Labor Laws (Article 6, Section 80):
DOORS:
New York Law:
“All doors leading in or to any such factory shall be constructed as to open outwardly, where practicable, and shall not be locked, bolted, or fastened during working hours.”
Triangle Shirtwaist Company Compliance:
Management keeps the doors locked by arguing that workers should pass through the only to exit at the end of the day, but all doors must be kept unlocked for the whole day in case of emergency. In the trial of Harris and Blanck, of the Triangle Shirtwaist Company, the prosecution contended the door on the 9th floor was locked and introduced witnesses who testified that, at the time of the fire, they were unable to open the door. Additionally, the ninth floor staircase door did not open outwardly, but inspectors failed to note a violation because only the width of a stair separated the door from the stairs, making it not “practicable”” for the door to open outwardly. Many of the victims of the fire died in front of the door as a result.
STAIRCASES:
New York Law:
“Buildings with more than 2,500 square feet per floor–but less than 5,000 square feet per floor–require two staircases. Each additional 5,000 square feet per floor requires an additional staircase.”
Triangle Shirtwaist Company Compliance:
The Triangle Shirtwaist Company floors had 10,000 square feet of space. Any additional floor space would have required a third staircase. As it was, two staircases met regulatory standards.
FIRE ESCAPES:
New York Law:
New York law left the matter of fire escapes to the discretion of building inspectors. The building inspector for the Asch building insisted that the fire escape proposed for the building “must lead down to something more substantial than a skylight.” The architect’s plans of the building showed a rear fire escape leading to a skylight.
Triangle Shirtwaist Company Compliance:
The Asch building architect agreed that “the fire escape will lead to the yard and an additional balcony will be put in.” In the final construction, however, the fire escape still ended at a second floor skylight. During the fire, the fire escape collapsed under the weight of the fleeing workers.
NON-WOOD SURFACES:
New York Law:
Buildings over 150 feet high must have metal trim, metal window frames, and stone or concrete floors. Buildings under 150 feet high have no such requirements.
Triangle Shirtwaist Company Compliance:
The ten-story Asch building was 135 feet high. If it had one more floor, it would have required non-wood surfaces.
It is important to know your rights and to know the laws. All of these regulations are put in place to PROTECT YOU! As many of you know, however, codes in a law book hardly find their ways into your places of work. Look out for dangerous conditions in your job. Speak up! Speak out! Call or email your local inspector or the ILGWU union at this address!