What did Samuel Gompers mean when he said that women had to burn in order to Spur government action of Labor safety?

Samuel Gompers' statement about women needing to "burn" to spur government action on labor safety highlighted the tragic reality that severe workplace accidents, especially those affecting women, often served as catalysts for reform. This phrase reflects the idea that it often took dire circumstances, such as the loss of lives in industrial disasters, to draw public attention and prompt legislative changes aimed at improving safety standards. Gompers was emphasizing the urgency of addressing labor conditions, particularly for vulnerable workers, to prevent further tragedies.