Before the Market Revolution, artisans crafted goods by hand. Their skills were highly valued and they enjoyed a high social status.
However, the rise of factories during the Market Revolution brought about a significant change. Factory work was grueling, dangerous, and demeaning for workers. Safety standards were rudimentary and accidents, including fatalities, were commonplace.
Artisan Worker
Before factories existed, skilled craftsmen known as artisans made a variety of goods and services in small workshops across medieval Europe. Artisans were highly regarded in their communities and often organized themselves into guilds. However, as production of goods moved from artisanal to factory-based processes, the artisans faced fierce competition. Their mantra was "scale up or die" – adopt labor-saving technologies and produce more goods faster at lower costs. In many industries, handcraft production disappeared or at least suffered a major decline. But in some, artisanal work persists and has actually flourished.
Today, the term artisan refers to any skilled worker who operates his or her own business in a craft, such as woodworking, jewelry making or metalwork. Many artisanal workers operate in the building construction and maintenance business, and many alternate between wage employment for contractors and self-employment on small jobs. Others work in hotels, department stores and other large establishments as maintenance people.
Generally, an artisan contracts with the individual who requires the services, agreeing on a price for the work and setting the method of doing it. An artisan may do the work himself or hire helpers and furnish tools. He or she has the right to determine how to do the work and can't be fired for reasons of unsatisfactory performance.
An artisan can be employed on a regular or project basis, and the contract may or may not include the cost of materials. An artisan also has the right to establish his or her work hours, and can't be terminated for reasons of unsatisfactory work.
Unlike traditional factory employees, knowledge artisans have the freedom to select their own learning tools. Increasingly, they also have the flexibility to use external social networks and collaborate with peers around the world. As more organizations shift to a knowledge-based economy, they must learn how to support these types of workers, and training departments need to be ready to adapt. They will need to offer a wide range of learning options, including formal classroom-based courses and on-the-job experiences. In addition, they will need to provide opportunities for collaboration and social interaction with other knowledge workers.
Factory Worker
The shift from artisanal craft to factory production was a major part of the Industrial Revolution, which occurred during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. This epochal transformation altered how societies produced, consumed, and even thought. It ushered in a new era of industrialism that transformed many facets of society and labor, but the impact was particularly pronounced on the life of the factory worker.
With the rise of factories, workers went from relying on agriculture and cottage industries for their livelihood to earning wages by the hour or piece. This shift had profound impacts on the workers' lives, both physically and psychologically. The sterile, claustrophobic conditions of a factory, the droning hum of machinery, and the constant oversight of supervisors all took their toll on the mental health of the workforce. The monotony of the work and the disconnection from the end product eroded many workers' pride in their craftsmanship, leaving them feeling like cogs in an impersonal machine.
In addition, the influx of workers into cities also brought about massive changes in community structure. The close-knit communities that characterized rural life were replaced with vast urban sprawls that often bred anonymity and isolation for city dwellers. For factory workers, this was especially true because the specialized tasks of their jobs made it difficult to interact with other people in the workplace.
Although these changes were challenging, they also paved the way for an emerging form of worker advocacy. Workers began to organize into labor unions, advocating for better wages and reasonable working hours. These early forms of workers' rights advocacy were met with resistance by factory owners, but they planted the seeds for future labor movements and significant reforms.
While the duties of a factory worker vary, they all involve working in sizable, noisy, and frequently filthy industrial applications that require intense physical exertion. These individuals must be able to work under tight deadlines while adhering to strict safety protocols. These workers need to be highly responsive and adaptable to changing processes and equipment. They must also be well-versed in manufacturing methodologies and able to quickly learn new skills as technology advances.
Factory Environment
The factory environment is a distinct work setting that is characterized by the production of physical goods and a highly structured workflow. It is a complex industrial setting that requires specific safety protocols and procedures. Some of the most common products produced in factories include food, clothing, electronics, and automotive parts.
During the Industrial Revolution, factory workers often worked extremely long hours and were subject to harsh working conditions. They were expected to perform specialized tasks that were often repetitive and monotonous. In addition, factory work was typically dangerous and resulted in frequent injuries.
In many cases, these hazards were compounded by a lack of safety regulations. Workers were at risk of losing a hand in machinery or being crushed by large objects. In one case, a factory worker named Daniel Buckley was working on a machine when his left hand became caught in the blades. Buckley suffered severe injuries and died as a result of his trauma.
These harsh conditions are still prevalent today, but there are many efforts underway to improve the quality of factory work. Manufacturers are implementing more efficient machinery and creating safer working environments. Additionally, they are improving their production processes to reduce waste and increase efficiency. As a result, factory workers are able to enjoy more stability and better living conditions.
Although modern advancements have drastically improved the quality of factory work, some factories still pose a threat to workers' health and well-being. For example, factories in developing countries such as India still struggle with labor laws and safety protocols. Additionally, these factories are prone to fires and structural issues that can lead to tragedy.
In addition to safety concerns, many factory workers are subjected to a variety of psychological and emotional challenges. Many are forced to work long shifts in crowded factories and face extreme stress due to the high volume of work. In some cases, this leads to burnout and a decrease in performance.
Moreover, factory workers are at increased risk of suffering from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. These illnesses are caused by a combination of factors, including exposure to air pollutants and toxic chemicals. In the United States, factories are known to release 1.2 trillion gallons of untreated sewage and industrial waste into water each year. They are also responsible for releasing more than 3 million tons of toxic chemicals into the air. Moreover, they emit over 17,000 tons of CO2 each day. This is a serious issue that should be addressed immediately.
Factory Life
As factories began dotting the landscape, their presence ushered in an era that dramatically impacted traditional family structures as well as workers’ physical and emotional health. For the first time, a majority of families had multiple members work in a factory, often for long shifts with little or no breaks or days off. This shift forced many to rethink household structure and led to a loss of quality family time. The need to support a large number of family members also caused children to be thrust into the workplace at an early age, robing them of their childhood and hampering future growth potential.
Factory life was often brutal, requiring long hours with few breaks and meager wages. The monotony of the work and the disconnect from the end product caused by the machines also took a toll on workers, detracting from the pride in craftsmanship that had been at the core of artisanal jobs. The emergence of the industrial revolution also spawned the emergence of distinct working classes that demanded more rights and improved labor conditions over time.
The factories themselves were massive, requiring a large workforce to keep production running at peak efficiency. To manage the work flow, workers were divided into groups, each focused on a specific task. Some secured and transported raw materials used in the manufacturing process, while others operated or fixed the machinery. Workers were expected to arrive at the factories as soon as their whistles blew, and those who were late could face penalties, including fines or even being locked out.
Workers struggled with poor air quality in the factories due to the constant dust and fumes, resulting in many respiratory problems. They were also subjected to long shifts with little or no breaks, which made them susceptible to fatigue and illness. The inability to receive adequate health care and a lack of job security exacerbated worker frustrations, fueling the rise of resistance movements and later labor unions.
The emergence of the industrial revolution also changed community dynamics, with close-knit rural communities replaced by densely populated urban areas. Although city living offered opportunities for social interaction and cultural experiences, it also bred anonymity and distance from the community.
No comments:
Post a Comment