The working conditions were terrible and often posed severe health and injury risks to children working there. According to an article written by Maine Hill, machinery and tools injured nearly three times the number of children than as adults.  Children could lose limbs from improper machine use, and they could get crushed under machines because of their small size. Because of crowded spaces and lack of sanitization, illness and disease could quickly spread. Additionally, many industries - such as coal mining - would expose children to harmful chemicals and fumes, which could lead to severe diseases such as lung cancer.  For example, according to Lumen Learning, it was common for young girls working in match factories to inhale phosphorous fumes, which would eventually cause phossy jaw - - a painful condition that causes brain damage with dying bone tissue. 

The most detrimental effect that child labor had on children was that it greatly affected their future. Because of the dangerous working conditions, if children didn't die from work accidents, they could die later in life from contracting illnesses and diseases. According to Lumin Learning, "Death before 25 years old was common for child workers." On top of having a lowered life expectancy, many children had to give up getting educated and working long shifts at factories to earn money. Giving up an education meant that children would often stay unskilled workers for the rest of their lives. Long work hours with extreme physical labor left no time for children to enjoy their childhoods.