Women in Factories
One of the many jobs that opened up to women because of the outbreak of war was jobs as factory workers. Some of the important work done by women in the war was in ammunition factories. With all the men away fighting in the war the work was done by the women. Women not only worked in ammunition factories but also as power machine operators and naval stations. Women, to some extent were used in all shops bust most of the time they worked in machinery, supply and public work departments. In an effort to supply more skilled female workers schools had been set up to train women in upholstering, trimming and other work calling for skilled operators.Women in World War 1 also found employment in other places like rail lines, driving buses and trams.
The women working in the factories faced many risks. They were exposed to many different chemicals and poisons. They had little or no protection. They were exposed to many explosives so one bad move could have been disastrous for the workers. Some women were nicknamed canaries because there skin turned a yellow color because they were exposed to sulfur and other chemicals. 400 women working in factories died from mishaps in handling explosives such as TNT.
The women working in the factories faced many risks. They were exposed to many different chemicals and poisons. They had little or no protection. They were exposed to many explosives so one bad move could have been disastrous for the workers. Some women were nicknamed canaries because there skin turned a yellow color because they were exposed to sulfur and other chemicals. 400 women working in factories died from mishaps in handling explosives such as TNT.