Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor

WASHING FACILITIES AND BATHS FOR MUNITION WORKERS IN GREAT BRITAINSource: Monthly Review of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Vol. 4, No. 1 (JANUARY,1917), pp. 150-151Published by: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of LaborStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41823276 .

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150 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.

WASHING FACILITIES AND BATHS FOR MUNITION WORKERS IN GREAT BRITAIN.

The health of munition workers committee, Great Britain, has recognized that cleanliness is beneficial not only to the health and personal efficiency of workers engaged on processes in which poison- ous materials are manipulated or where heat, dust, or dirt are pres- ent to an unusual degree, as advocated in its memorandum No. 8 on " Special industrial diseases," 1 but that it also bears an impor- tant relation to good health and working efficiency of all work- ers. In its memorandum No. 14, entitled "Washing facilities and baths," 2 the committee takes occasion to emphasize this fact and to urge the importance of providing opportunities for washing, so that workers may leave their employment clean and tidy. Evidence before the committee seems to have clearly established the desire of many operatives, especially those engaged in heavy engineering processes, for improved lavatory and washing accommodations. The committee found that where washing facilities have been provided sufficient attention is seldom paid to the details of construction, with the result that lavatories quickly fall into disrepair. This can be avoided, it is believed, if the installation is made to conform to the following requirements: Simple in construction and arrange- ment ; strong and durable ; sufficient and suitable in accommodation, so that a large number can wash together or in a short time ; econom- ical in space ; so constructed that it can be easily cleaned ; provided with ample supply of cold and hot water; so situated in the factory as to be fairly available for all for whom it is provided. Nail brushes secured by chains, so that they can not be removed, should be provided; soap, preferably in liquid or powdered form, should be placed in small boxes above the washing trough; and clean, dry towels, renewed or washed daily, should be supplied to each worker, though it is suggested that a roller towel may be provided for every three workers, but should be renewed or washed daily, or provided for every nine workers if it is renewed or washed after each meal and at the close of the day's work.

In addition to ordinary washing accommodations the committee suggests the desirability of providing bathing facilities in many in- dustries, especially those in which workers are exposed to great heat and excessive dust, or are brought into contact with poisonous mate- rial. For men a shower or douche bath is recommended as being sim-

XA brief digest of this memorandum will be found in the Monthly Review for June, 1916, pp. 83-88. 8 Great Britain. Health of Munition Workers' Committee. Memorandum iso. 14, Washing Facilities and Baths. London, August, 1916. 8 pp.

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MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 151

pie and inexpensive ; for women a horizontal spray at the level of the shoulders is suggested. The number of these baths should be suffi- cient to enable workers to have a bath at any time without appreci- able delay ; privacy should be insured ; construction should be so car- ried out as to facilitate the maintenance of absolute cleanliness ; pure water at a temperature of about 100° F. should be used ; soap in the form of a tablet sufficient for one bath should be provided; where necessary there should be provision for drying the clothes of workers.

The committee emphasizes the importance of care in the mainte- nance of these baths and lavatories, and suggests that this should be made the definite duty of an appointed officer acting under the wel- fare supervisor, "who should keep the lavatory clean, control the supply of nail brushes and soap, and arrange that dry, clean towels are available."

While the ultimate responsibility for upkeep must rest with the employer it may be found, at any rate in the case of baths, that the workers may with ad- vantage be encouraged to participate in the management by special committee or otherwise. The question of the payment to be made for baths will also need careful consideration ; in some cases at any rate the workers may prefer to make some small payment. Where periodic baths are of special benefit to health and efficiency, it is found desirable to allow workers time for bathing within work- ing hours.

EIGHT-HOUR LAW IN ECUADOR.

Article 1. No laborer, mechanic, employee in any commercial es- tablishment, office, industrial enterprise, and, in general, no employee whatever may be the nature of his services, shall be compelled to labor more than 8 hours daily, six days per week, nor shall he be required to perform any labor on Sundays or legal holidays.

Article 2. No contract or stipulation entered into for the purpose of evading the provisions of Article 1 shall be of any force or effect.

Article 3. If upon request any laborer, mechanic, clerk, etc., shall perform labor in excess of the hours as provided for in Article 1, he shall be paid for such excess worked during the day wages in- creased by 20 per cent of the regular wages; increased by 50 per cent for hours worked between 6 o'clock p. m. and 12 o'clock mid- right, and 100 per cent after the last-named hour.

These increases shall be based upon one-eighth of the daily wages, and shall be paid for each hour worked in excess of the 8 hours provided by this act.

Article 4. The provisions of Article 3 shall apply to persons working by shifts, only to the extent to which their labor is pro- longed beyond the 8-hour shift, in which case they shall be paid the increased wages for each hour of overtime as herein provided.

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