Unsafe Working Conditions Collection

Blowing glass in a British factory, 1800s
Workers in a crown-glass factory, Great Britain, early 1800s. Hand-colored engraving of a 19th-century illustration

Coal mine in England, 1850s
Removing coal in the Bradley mine, Staffordshire, England, 1850s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th century illustration

Glass factory workers in Britain, 1800s
Manufacturing glass at a flint-glass factory, Great Britain, 1800s. Hand-colored engraving of a 19th-century illustration

Immigrants building the transcontinental railroad
Asian and European immigrants working on the last mile of the transcontinental railroad, 1869. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Freight train brakemen in a blizzard
Railroad brakemen working atop boxcars in a snowstorm, 1890s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

BUSN2A-00149
Iron industry workers manufacturing steel in England, 1800s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Excavating the Panama Canal
Workers using explosives to excavate the Panama Canal, 1900s. Printed color halftone reproduction of an early 20th-century illustration

BUSN2A-00262
Steel industry workers at the coke furnaces of Pennsylvania, 1880s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th century illustration

BUSN2A-00256
Bessemer steel converter in a Pittsburgh steel mill, 1880s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Pittsburgh coke ovens, 1880s
Steel workers at the Pittsburgh coke ovens, showing their dwellings on the hilltop, 1880. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

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"Unveiling the Dark Side: Perilous Working Conditions of the Past" Coal mine in England, 1850s: Descending into the depths of danger, miners risked their lives daily to fuel a nation's progress. Blowing glass in a British factory, 1800s: Amidst searing heat and toxic fumes, artisans battled hazardous conditions to shape delicate masterpieces. Glass factory workers in Britain, 1800s: Sweat-soaked brows and trembling hands revealed the toll taken by grueling hours spent amidst shards and molten glass. Immigrants building the transcontinental railroad: Braving treacherous terrains and unforgiving weather, these unsung heroes laid tracks with blood, sweat, and tears. Freight train brakemen in a blizzard: Battling biting winds and icy rails under an unforgiving sky, these brave souls risked life and limb to keep commerce moving forward. BUSN2A-00149 (caption not provided) Coal mine disaster in England, 1860s: A haunting reminder of how neglecting safety measures can lead to devastating consequences for those who delve deep into darkness. Excavating the Panama Canal: Enduring sweltering heatwaves and mosquito-infested jungles; workers faced peril at every turn while carving out this engineering marvel. BUSN2A-00262 (caption not provided) BUSN2A-00256 (caption not provided) Pittsburgh coke ovens, 1880s : Inhaling acrid smoke amid fiery infernos; laborers sacrificed their health for industrial progress amidst towering ovens that belched pollution into Pittsburgh's skies Coal mine disaster in England, 1860s : The earth shook as tragedy struck again - another grim reminder that human lives were often sacrificed for the insatiable hunger of the coal industry.