Can't Take No More 1980 Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA)

Summary

This video script chronicles the historical struggle of workers for safe and healthy working conditions. From the dangerous post-Civil War era to the establishment of OSHA, it highlights the inhumane conditions that led to mass injuries and deaths, the rise of unions and worker advocacy, and the legislative milestones that have shaped modern occupational safety and health standards. The narrative underscores the ongoing fight for workers' rights, emphasizing the importance of prevention and the collective effort to ensure a safer workplace for all.

Takeaways

• 👷 Workers went on strike due to inhumane working conditions and a lack of occupational safety and health protections.
• 📈 The 1980s saw occupational safety and health emerge as a major social concern, with movements asserting workers' rights to a safe workplace.
• 💥 Workplace accidents have historically resulted in millions of deaths and disabilities, including from explosions, falls, and dangerous machinery.
• 🛠️ Post-Civil War economic expansion led to an increase in production rates and a demand for more workers, but also to harsh and dangerous working conditions.
• 🚂 Railway and mining workers faced particularly high risks of death and injury, with little government oversight or regulation.
• 📚 Journalists and social reformers, such as Lewis Hine and Upton Sinclair, helped expose the brutal conditions and led to the establishment of the Department of Labor in 1913.
• 🛑 Major tragedies, like the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, often catalyzed changes in safety regulations and the creation of inspection commissions.
• 🏭 The voluntary safety movement and the National Safety Council set guidelines for safety practices, although initially blamed workers' carelessness for accidents.
• 😷 Workers' health, particularly from industrial poisons and gases, was largely ignored until the 20th century, with Alice Hamilton leading early investigations into lead poisoning.
• 🛠️ The 1930s saw the first government-imposed health and safety standards with the passage of the Walsh Act, focusing on respirator use and safety precautions.
• 🌐 The post-World War II era introduced new workplace hazards with technological and chemical advancements, prompting increased research into their health effects.
• 🛑 The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 established OSHA, affirming the right to a safe and healthy workplace and setting rules for enforcement.
• 🗳️ Workers and unions are increasingly demanding transparency about workplace chemicals, medical records, and the right to a safe work environment.

Q & A

Why did the workers come out on strike?

The workers came out on strike due to inhumane working conditions, where people were being misused and there were significant occupational safety and health concerns.

What was the historical context of the movement for a healthy and safe workplace?

The movement for a healthy and safe workplace emerged as a major social concern in the 1980s, following a history of workers being exposed to hazardous conditions that resulted in millions of deaths and disabilities.

What were the working conditions like after the Civil War in the American economy?

After the Civil War, the American economy expanded rapidly, leading to an increase in production rates and a demand for millions more workers. However, many faced harsh conditions, long hours, low wages, and dangerous work environments.

Which industry had one of the most dangerous jobs during the late 19th and early 20th centuries?

Railway workers had one of the most dangerous jobs, with nearly 15,000 killed between 192 and 198.

What was the role of journalists and social reformers in improving workers' conditions?

Outraged journalists and social reformers supported workers' efforts to organize, exposing the horrors of child labor and the brutal lives of workers in industries like the Chicago Stockyards, which led to government action to create agencies to protect workers.

What was the impact of the Mananga M disaster on mine safety?

The Mananga M disaster, which resulted in the death of 361 men, led to the establishment of the Bureau of Mines to supervise mine safety, marking a step towards better regulation of the industry.

What was the significance of the National Safety Council's voluntary safety movement?

The voluntary safety movement, initiated by the National Safety Council, set guidelines for safety engineering and better working practices, which companies began to adopt, including setting up guards around dangerous machinery and safety classes.

How did the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in 1911 affect workplace safety regulations?

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, which resulted in the death of 146 people due to locked exits, led to the establishment of the first permanent commission to inspect factory safety in New York.

What was the role of the National Labor Relations Act in the context of workers' rights?

The National Labor Relations Act made it a legal right for workers to unionize, which allowed labor to emerge as a powerful force that could better address health and safety issues.

What was the catalyst for the creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)?

The Occupational Safety and Health Act was passed in 1970 following a major disaster at the Farmington West, Virginia mine where 78 miners were killed, confirming the legal right to a healthy and safe workplace and establishing OSHA.

What are some of the modern challenges faced by workers in terms of safety and health?

Modern challenges include exposure to 20,000 suspected toxic chemicals in the workplace, with about 1/5 of all cancer cases associated with job-related chemical exposure. Workers are demanding the right to see their medical records and to be informed about the chemicals they work with.