The Woman's Part: A Record of Munitions Work — John Shaqi
The Woman's Part: A Record of Munitions WorkYates, L. K.
History
The Woman's Part: A Record of Munitions Work
Yates, L. K.
Great Britain. Army -- Ordnance facilities; Weapons industry -- Employees; World War, 1914-1918 -- Women
What is true of the life in such large concerns as Woolwich Arsenal, or
His Majesty's Factory, Gretna, is typical on a large scale of the
development of Welfare work in many a munitions factory throughout the
kingdom. Protective clothing has been universally adopted, ambulance-rooms
and rest-rooms have been opened, cloak-room accommodation improved,
canteens established, sane recreation encouraged, and the protection of a
women-police service introduced. In short, an atmosphere is being
introduced by which the old-time barrier between employer and employed is
being helped to disappear.
_Protective Clothing_
So much has been accomplished since the advent of women in the munitions
factories with regard to protective clothing for the worker that the
subject might well fill a chapter to itself. A separate Department in the
Ministry of Munitions now concerns itself solely with its supply, and is
continually experimenting with improvements in aprons, gloves, boots,
caps, and tunics. Cotton overalls are now generally worn by the women
employees and much thought has been given to the production of these
garments in suitable materials and design. They are made with firmly
stitched belts and with inset pockets, so as to avert accidents by contact
of loose ends in the machinery, and are more often in the popular shades
of khaki, or brown, with scarlet facings, or dark blue faced with crimson.
But there is no set rule either as to colour, or design, so long as the
principle of protection is followed.
Caps, which at first were much disliked by the workers, have at length
found general favour, not, it is true, by reason of the immunity they
offer against accident, but because they have been fashioned so as to add
'chic' to the wearer. They are usually of the 'Mob,' or 'Dutch' variety,
and match the overall in colour and texture; they are all designed so that
there is no pressure round the head. Sometimes, the cap of safety has been
skilfully used as a mark of distinction, and one may see, in a shop
staffed by women, the operators at the machines in khaki headgear, the
setters-up of machines in scarlet caps, and the overlookers or inspectors
of the product in bright blue head-dress.
For wet and dusty work there are trouser suits in cotton, woollen, or
mackintosh, or tunic suits with knee breeches and leggings, or gaiters.
Mackintosh coats are also provided for outdoor work in shipyards, or for
trucking and lorrying, or for overhead crane-work within the factory.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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