Radium Girls: Factory Workers Whose Deaths Led To Better Labour Laws In US

In the early 20th century, radium was hailed as a miracle element, used in products from health tonics to luminous paints. Among its several applications was the painting of watch dials and hands, a task assigned to young female workers across the United States, notably in Orange, New Jersey; Ottawa, Illinois; and Waterbury, Connecticut. These women, later known as the 'Radium Girls', were instructed to use the 'lip, dip, paint' technique, which involved sharpening their brushes with their lips to achieve fine points for the detailed work. Each lick introduced radioactive radium into their bodies, unknowingly.

At the time, the general public was not fully aware of the many dangers of the radioactive element, radium. However, the companies employing these women were completely aware of the risks.

While the workers handled radium-laced paint without protection, the scientists and executives took precautions, using lead screens and tongs to avoid exposure. Despite being aware of the several hazards of the element, the company lied to the young women that ingesting radium was safe and even healthy for their bodies.

The Fight for Justice

As years passed, the Radium Girls began experiencing severe health issues: anaemia, bone fractures, and a condition known as 'radium jaw,' where the jawbone deteriorated painfully. Despite mounting evidence, companies denied any connection between the illnesses and radium exposure, often attributing symptoms to other causes to avoid liability.

However, in 1927, five courageous women—Grace Fryer, Edna Hussman, Katherine Schaub, and sisters Quinta McDonald and Albina Larice- filed a lawsuit against the United States Radium Corporation.

Their legal battle was vigorous, with the company employing tactics to delay the proceedings. Ultimately, the case was settled in 1928, with each woman receiving $10,000 and a $600 annual annuity, along with coverage for medical and legal expenses.

This landmark case highlighted the need for corporate accountability and led to the establishment of occupational disease labour laws.

The Last Survivor

The Radium Girls' plight brought significant changes to workplace safety standards and raised awareness about the dangers of radioactive materials.

Mae Keane, one of the last known Radium Girls, passed away in 2014 at the age of 107. She had left the dial-painting job after just a few days, disliking the taste of the paint, a decision that likely saved her life.

Their story has been talked about in several books, films, as well as academic studies, serving as a reminder of the consequences of corporate negligence.