Industrial Revolution Factory Working Conditions

Working Conditions in Factories During the Industrial Revolution

• Workers were subjected to cruel discipline, including frequent beatings that sometimes resulted in death.
• Women and children were often bullied and subjected to extreme punishments, such as having iron weights hung around their necks or being dipped in water to stay awake.
• Fierce systems of fines were imposed for minor infractions, such as talking or having dirt on a machine.
• Many workers, especially children, suffered deformities from standing for long hours.
• Accidents were common, with children forced to crawl into dangerous machinery while exhausted.
• Poor working conditions, including damp air and dust, led to many cases of illness such as pneumonia and lung disease.
• Workers often worked long hours, with no clocks in the factories and severe punishments for being late.
• Punishments for disobedience could include having hair cut off or being dipped in a cistern of water.
• Accidents often resulted in severe injury or death, with workers' limbs and bones often crushed by machinery.
• Manchester was known for having many people without limbs due to factory accidents.
• Students are tasked with creating a protocol for dealing with factory accidents during the Industrial Revolution, including attending to victims and ensuring their recovery.
• The protocol must be detailed and explicit to prevent further harm to workers.