#7: Match Factory Worker
In the late 1800s, many women and young workers made matches using white phosphorus every day. Long-term exposure often caused a painful disease that damaged the jaw. In 1888, the Matchgirls Strike in London brought worldwide attention to the poor working conditions at Bryant & May. The public outcry pushed manufacturers and governments to switch to safer materials in the early 1900s, bringing this dangerous job to an end.
