Which worker conditions did Robert Owen focus on improving?

Robert Owen was a pioneering figure in the early labor movement and is best known for his advocacy for improving worker conditions, particularly in the context of the industrial revolution. His efforts were primarily directed toward enhancing the safety and working conditions in mills, where many laborers, including women and children, endured harsh and unsafe environments. Owen recognized that the well-being of workers directly affected their productivity and overall quality of life.

He implemented various reforms in the factories he managed, focusing on creating safer working environments, reducing working hours, and promoting better living conditions for workers. Owen's work laid the groundwork for future labor reform movements by highlighting the essential need for humane treatment of workers and the importance of their physical and mental health within the workplace.

While other options touch upon significant issues regarding labor and societal improvement—such as education for children, pay scales, or union rights—Owen's primary contributions were focused squarely on the immediate conditions faced by workers in industrial settings. His legacy is largely centered around these critical improvements, making the emphasis on worker safety and operational conditions in mills the correct answer.