On March 25, 1911, Triangle Shirtwaist Factory workers trying to escape a fire had to jump from eighth, ninth and tenth floor windows after finding doors to stairwells and exits locked. This lock-in by factory owners was quite common at the time, and was meant to prevent workers from taking breaks or stealing. On that tragic day, it prevented workers from fleeing a burning building. The death toll was 146.
In our more enlightened times, owners and managers are keenly aware of the potential danger of failing to provide quick access from a building, right?