Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-01-07
GOVERNMENT GIVES
PARTICULAR CARE TO
WOMEN WAR WORKERS
Sets Good Example For Employers,
Says Report OF Philadelphia
Naval Aircraft Factory


employers in its provision for women
workers.
In May, 1918, Miss May Allison, ex-
ecutiye secretary of the committee,
made her first visit TO the plant This
was about six months after women had
been first introduced into the factory
and about one month after the decision
was made to place them on the skilled
woodworking processes. A second
visit was made in August, when about
three hundred and fifty women were
employed, and third in October, when
one hundred more had been added.
The report. prepared by Miss Atkinson,
says:
THE navy department appreciates
that the needs of the personnel must
be met, as is shown by the provision
of large modern and well equipped
workrooms. good Mushroom and toilet
facilities, and a large. well equipped
lunchroom, by the development of a
capable staff of employment managers
and by the establishment of a good
training school through which the
women are indicted into their new
occupations.
Increases Effectiveness.
LAS a result of its investigation of
the Philadelphia naval aircraft factor
les the. Committee on Women in In
dustry suggested to the management
in its preliminary report, September,
1918. still further developments in the
provisions for efficiency and adjust
ment in the belief that they would add
to the effectiveness of the women
workers and increase the output of the
plant
1.-THE committee offered the following
recommendations, some of which are
already being put into effect. Re-
quests for the fulfilment of others have
been made to the officials in charge of
the factory management:
The recommendations are:
/. That adequate first aid equipment
should be introduced, in charge of one
or more nurses. Furthermore. a plant
employing three thousand workers
should have an emergency clinic and
hospital room. and at least visiting
doctor. if not one stationed at the
plant throughout working hours.
The medical officer of the yard au-
thorized the employment of two
nurses. and two dispensaries were
built
Study Effect OF Fumes
2. Before and after introducing
women into the dope room, careful OBJ
servation of the effect of the dope
fumes on the health of workers should
be undertaken, and careful considera-
ton given to the British methods of
avoiding any possible bad effects.
The sulphuric ether. and the tetra-
chlorethane, SO injurious to workers on
the first airplanes, are no longer used.
3. That rest room large enough
to accommodate the greatly increased
force of workers during the noon hour
should be provided in each building.
(a) That the women service work
ers should have adequate quarters
an office and consultation room
where they can interview the women
workers relative to their special prob
lens.
(b) That one at least should have
authority and opportunity to develop
ment with the management in its ex-
ecutive meetings the policy relative to
women's employment, and to carry out
such policies, changes and improve
ments as seem advisable.
tc) That such assistants be given
as she may need to look after the in
terests of the increasing number of
women workers
.. That woman employment man
ager should be appointed on the en-
ployment staff to see women when thew
first enter the factory and to deyelop
In them the proper spirit and attitude
toward their work. This must be fol-
lowed up by constant oversight.
To Study Conditions.
In wholly new industry where
women are coming into mems occupa-
ions they must often work side by side
with men," says the report. Their
strangeness in the occupations and
their dependence on the men workers
for help and direction is likely to slow
UP pEOuuCtiOH unless they have a
strictly business attitude and appre-
ciate the Importance of getting out
quality and quantity production. With
the woman employment manager and
the woman welfare workers the woman
worker will discuss the difficulties
which hamper her efficiency. These
women executives should be in posi-
ton to take up situations with the
when necessary and to
help the women themselves to meet the
situation through new point of view
or new adjustments"
6. The ACCESSIBILITY of introducing
forewomen into departments employ
ing large numbers of women might
we'll be considered by the manage
ment.
& That the navy department take
some measures for improving the
transportation facilities for the
women workers going to and coming
from their work by increasing facili-
ties for reaching the navy yard gate,
and also for covering the mile from the
gate m the 20