That is not what happened at the Hawthorne Works.
"Efficiency Experts," precursors of the field that came to be called Human Factors or Ergonomics, did a study there to see how much lighting was needed to get the work done properly and efficiently. They increased the lighting step by step and asked the workers about their working conditions and how they felt. Efficiency increased with the increased lighting. Then, as good researchers, they decreased the lighting, step by step and asked the workers the same questions. And efficiency INCREASED with each reduction in the lighting, even down to such low levels that it was very difficult to see anything.
They concluded that the workers were reacting to a perceived interest by management in how they were doing - morale increased and drove efficiency, not the lighting.
This came to be known as the Hawthorne Effect. When worker believe management is truly interested in them, their output improves.
Peter Zavon, CIH
Penfield, NY
PZAVON**At_Symbol_Here**Rochester.rr.com
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU] On Behalf Of walter.garrow
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2017 7:16 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Survey of Workers in the Los Angeles Garment Industry
The Triangle Shirtwaist fire (over 100 years ago) was one of those events that was so horrific that it changed history. Many died. It significantly started both the rise in unions and safety organizations. Another event that involved the Hawthorne Works, which was a large factory complex of the Western Electric Company in Cicero, Illinois, also impacted history. Poor working conditions were identified and in that case employee concerns were addressed. A result was increased productivity.
However, a philosopher named George Santa Yana said "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Winston Churchill also stated that.
As great and as impacting as those two working conditions events were, it seems that through time, some forget. How blind some may be to the conditions and safety of those who produce their products and profits.
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
-------- Original message --------
From: Richard Rosera <richardrosera**At_Symbol_Here**GMAIL.COM>
Date: 1/18/17 10:23 PM (GMT-05:00)
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Survey of Workers in the Los Angeles Garment Industry
One wonders whether anybody associated with this industry has heard about the Triangle Shirtwaist fire!
Richard Rosera
Rosearray EHS Services LLC
908-279-4463
Begin forwarded message:
From: The Pump Handle <donotreply**At_Symbol_Here**wordpress.com>
Subject: [New post] I'm 100% certain that this is why my body is messed up
Date: January 18, 2017 at 9:33:10 PM EST
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