Final answer:
An unsafe condition on a job site such as inadequate lighting can lead to accidents, echoing historical issues of poor working conditions. Employers had a responsibility to improve safety through measures like providing PPE and safer environmental conditions, which often went unaddressed due to profit motives.
Step-by-step explanation:
An example of an unsafe condition on a job site is c) Inadequate lighting in a stairway. Workplace safety covers various aspects, ranging from environmental conditions to personal behavior. Inadequate lighting, particularly in areas like stairways, can increase the risk of accidents and injuries.
Historical contexts reveal that during the industrial revolution, laborers were exposed to numerous unsafe conditions, such as machinery without safety guards, leading to lost fingers and hands; standing for long periods resulting in musculoskeletal disorders; inhaling fibers in textile factories causing respiratory issues; and exposure to extreme temperatures and hazardous chemicals.
Employers played a role in ensuring or neglecting worker safety. Preventive steps like improving lighting, introducing rest breaks, providing proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and controlling exposure to toxic substances are examples of measures that could have reduced potential hazards. However, due to the lack of regulation and consideration for profits over workers' wellbeing, employers often did not make the necessary changes to create safer working conditions.