>>My question is, why does it take a horrible tragedy to get something fixed?<<
Unfortunately, money is generally at the bottom of it. Owners didn't want theft; unauthorized breaks; etc. Forget that human beings are generally working hard for what they earn. The owners do not always think of workers as human beings and they don't always think ahead in the what will happen in the event of an emergency.
Often the cost of human life doesn't enter the picture. In this case, Pro-Choice is often life vs making a buck.