Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1923-06-01
HEALTH IS
AFFECTED BY
PIECE WORK
(By United States Public Health
SergiceD

(By United States Public Health
Seryice)
The effect on the physique and on
the health of industrial workers Of the
monotonous and rapid repetition hour
after hour and month after month Of
movements in themselves light and
simple has recently begun to chal-
lenge the attention Of the medical pro
fession. Especially has IL done this
since this work, so characteristic Of
modern industry, has been more and
more monopoliZed, unusually on a
piece basis, by women whose dizziness
and swiftness have enabled them to
take possession of occupations which
did not require much muscular
strength.
So far, although conclusive proof
is lacking, the weight Of opinion
seems to be that serious injury may
be caused by any work, the perform
ance. of which requires cramped, con-
strained, or awkward posture. Less
general and less positive is the opin-
ion as to the effect of the work on the
nervous systems, especially in women.
and dropping of the head congresses
the chest and interferes with the
breathing, and this alone leads TO
many ills. 1t also forces the ribs
and all that they inclose down upon
the abdomen and tends to displace its
organs. Among other results this
pressure causes folding in" of the
wall of the abdomen along the belt
line and the partial stoppage of ma
terial moving through the intestines,
and this leads to constipation, diar-
rhea, nervousness, abnormal fatigue,
and headaches.
Work that requires sideway
"slouch" crowds the ribs between a
low shoulder and a high hip on one
side and expands them on the other
side, interfering with the breathing
and paving the way for tuberculosis.
In girls and women this clouch also
tends to displace other important
organs.
Such results may be prevented or
lessened by change of work; for in
stance change from work that re-
qpuires STOPPING forward to work that
requires reaching upward, or that re-
quires sideways SLOUGH, or that re-
quires no particular attitude. Such
change naturally involves loss in
speed, which for time may cause
serious money loss to a piece worker;
but, especially in young girls, it will
help to prevent i'll health and posi-
bly, deformity.
Proper chairs are also helpful. For
instance, as sitting all day at ones
work is probably nearly as bad as
standing all day, a combination of
chair and desk Tor work bench)
nit one to work with equal ease
whether standing or sitting may be
advantageous. Many types of prop
err chairs have been designed; but,
naturally, few or none of them seem
to be fitted to all types of work.
Certain factors seem, however, to be
advisable in all chairs.
All chairs, for instance, that are
Ito high to permit the occupants feet
to rest firmly on the floor, should
be provided with foot rest that
would prevent the lower part of the
legs from dangling and the upper
part (thighs) from pressing against
the edge of the chair; practically, this
means that women should not be
called upon to use chairs built for
men. Rests for the back are also ex-
tremely helpful in lessening fatigue
That the constant repetition of a
movement does in time affect the ner-
vous system is more than probable,
but how Importantly it affects it has
not been established. Anderson, for
instance, states that girl after girl in
cigarette packing factory was found
when off duty to be constantly re-
peating the motions she made While
at work; and insists that such tenden-
cies should be investigated.
The best preventives so far sug-
gested seem to be the daily utilization
of the forenoon and afternoon rest
periods now in vogue in some factor
les either in complete rest or in ex-
ercising muscles not used i'm working
time. When combined with periodic
changes in occupation that call for
changes in the muscles used such
utilization should give effective help
in preventing serious troubles.
For further information write to
Surgeon General, U. S. Public Health
Service, Washington, ID. c., for Re-
print ITO: Posture of children. No
charge.
Job work at The Raview