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Article: The lady who cleaned up factories.(History Corner)(Dr. Alice Hamilton)(Biography)
- Article from:
- Child Life
- Article date:
- September 1, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 Benjamin Franklin Literary & Medical Society, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Dr. Alice Hamilton always arrived at a factory prepared. She had done her homework well. She knew just exactly what conditions she was looking for, and she had carefully worked out what could be done to improve them. Alice Hamilton was a topnotch factory inspector.
Before 1910 many health hazards were part of factory work. A bathtub factory is a good example. Manufacturing bathtubs was extremely dangerous. Even the hardiest of men rarely lasted more than four or five years before severe illness or death suddenly ended his working days.
Bathtubs were molded of cast iron. Then, while still red-hot, they were coated with powdered enamel that melted and ...