Great Mill Disaster

Great Mill Disaster is a significant event in industrial history that occurred in the late 19th century. The disaster took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and resulted in the loss of numerous lives and significant property damage. The event is a pivotal point in the history of industrial safety regulations and has been the subject of numerous studies and historical analyses.

Background

The Great Mill Disaster took place on May 2, 1878, in the Washburn A Mill in Minneapolis. The mill was one of the largest and most technologically advanced mills of its time, producing enough flour to make 12 million loaves of bread in a single day. The disaster was caused by a dust explosion, a common hazard in flour mills and other industrial settings where fine particles are present in large quantities.

The Disaster

On the day of the disaster, a spark ignited the airborne flour dust within the mill, causing a catastrophic explosion. The explosion was so powerful that it destroyed the mill and several nearby buildings, killing 18 workers and injuring many more. The event was widely reported in the press and led to a public outcry for improved safety measures in industrial workplaces.

Aftermath and Impact

The Great Mill Disaster had a profound impact on industrial safety regulations. In the aftermath of the disaster, new laws were enacted to improve safety in mills and other industrial workplaces. These laws included requirements for better ventilation, dust control measures, and the use of safer machinery and equipment. The disaster also led to the establishment of the National Bureau of Standards, which set safety standards for industrial workplaces.

The disaster is also significant for its impact on the city of Minneapolis and its flour milling industry. The destruction of the Washburn A Mill, one of the city's largest and most important mills, had a major economic impact. However, the city was able to recover and rebuild, and Minneapolis continued to be a major center of the flour milling industry for many years.

See Also

• Industrial Revolution
• Industrial safety
• Dust explosion
• Washburn A Mill