The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-11-04
HEALTH PROBLEMS
OF WOMEN in
INDUSTRIES
Published by U. S. Department
of Labor


Practically speaking, the entire
program for the regulation of hours,
wages, and conditions of work for
women in industry is based upon
the power of the State to protect
health. 1t is the recognition by
the courts of the special significance
to general welfare of the health of
women combined with the more Sc
rious effect upon women than upon
men of long hours, low wages, and
unhealthy working conditions, which
has resulted in the upholding of laws
regulating such conditions. With tho
legal sanction for such regulation
once given, legislation of one sort
or another affecting conditions I'M
der which women may be employed
has been put on the statute books
of every State in the Union except
New Mexico. These laws vary in
the different states, of course, rang
ing all the way from a careful reg
ulation of hours and wages and a
very definite supervision and control
of working conditions in states such
as Oregon, California, and the Dis
trict of Columbia, to the require
ment simply of seats for women
workers in certain occupations in
Alabama, Florida, and West Vir-
ginia.
Standardization Is Essential
In spite of the fact that the theory
iustifying the power of the state
to make these regulations has been
so generally accepted, the regula-
tions enforced have varied to such
an extend that no two States have
established the same standards. For
this reason one of the earliest tasks
undertaken by the Women's Bu-
reau when it was first organized
was to formulate definite standards
for the employment of women. in
industry, which could serve as a
guide to the many different groups
who were working for the better
protection of wage-earning women.
The standards thus formulated
cover conditions only in a general
way, but they are the fundamentals
which apply to all industries and all
occupations. Qualifications and elab-
orations may have to be instituted
to meet special cases and peculiar
conditions, but the fundamental
standards necessary to insure health
and efficiency will not be altered.
Briefly stated, these standards for
women in industry which constitute
the program and the creed of the
Women's Bureau are:
The eight-hour day.
Saturday half holiday.
No nightwork.
ton and not on sex, with the mini
mum rate sufficient to cover the
cost of living for dependents and
not merely for the individual.
Good working conditions, including
adequate washing facilities; adequate
and sanitary toilet accommodation !:
dressing rooms, rest rooms, and
lunch rooms; clean workrooms with
carefully adjusted lighting, ventila-
ton, and heating; plentiful and san
itary drinking facilities; chairs, ma
chimes, and work tables adjusted so
that the workers can either stand
or sit at their work; carefully
guarded machinery; elimination of
the necessity for constant standing
or other posture causing physical
1Si oiAi1 ACPSdbtu VI n6dNY
weights or other abnormally fatigu-
ing motions, and the operation of
mechanical devices requiring undue
strengths; exposure to excessive cold.
or to dust, fumes, or other occu-
pational poisons without adequate
safeguards against disease.
Prohibition of employment of wo-
men in occupations involving the use
Of poisons which are proved to be
more injurious to women than to
men.
Prohibition of home work.
Establishment of systems of en-
ployment management.
Cooperation Of workers in estab-
fishing standards.
In this group of standards there
readily are found many recommended |
tons which apply fully as strongly
to men as to women. For instance.