Most people, including children worked a 12 hour day. They had mid-day break for one hour and short breaks for breakfast and tea.

Working conditions

Many factory owners put profit above the health and safety of their workers. Children and young women were employed in terrible conditions in textile mills and mines. Furnaces were operated without proper safety checks. Workers in factories and mills were deafened by steam hammers and machinery. hours were long and there were no holidays.

Children worked in factories

How did factory conditions change in the 1840's

1833 Factory Act,

• Children banned from working in textile factories under the age of nine.
• 9 - 13 year olds limited to 9 hours a day and 48 hours a week.
• 13 - 18 year olds limited to 12 hours a day and 69 hours a week.
• All children under eleven to have two hours education a day.
• Government Factory Inspectors appointed to enforce the law.

1842 Mines and Collieries Act

• All women and children under 10 were banned from working underground.
• No one under 15 years was to work winding gear in mines.

1844 Factory Act:

• Minimum age for working in factories reduced to 8 years old.
• 8 to 13 years old to work a maximum of six and a half hours on weekdays and only six hours on Saturday
• 13 to 18 year olds to work a maximum of 12 hours a day and the same applied to women.
• Safety guards had to be fitted to all machines.
• Three hours education a day for children.

1847 Fielder's Factory Act:

• 10 hour day introduced for under 18's and for women.

1864 Factory Act, this extended the regulations to factories other than textiles and coalmines.

1867 Factory Act, the legislation was extended to all workshops with more than 50 workers.

Other links

Working children