Women and men alike kept safe in the
armory by following strict safety
guidelines.

This worker's eye, and subsequent
vision, was saved by a pair of
safety goggles.

Industrial work is dangerous. Machines have no respect for the human body, and a moment of carelessness can cost you a finger, a limb, or worse. Flying chips and shavings can damage the eyes. Industrial chemicals can be toxic, airborne dust can damage the respiratory system. Safety measures exist but can be circumvented by management looking to increase production or workers unwilling to take precautions due to discomfort or ignorance. The Springfield Armory waged a constant campaign to promote worker safety, via dress codes, safety equipment and exhortations in the house newsletters, The Armorer (during World War I) and the Armory News (World War II). The example shown here describes safety procedures specifically for women workers.

Even something as simple and
innocent as a wedding band can
cause major accidents in the
factory.

Despite best practices, accidents still occur. One example is of the worker picutred on the right. While working on his machine, an errant piece of metal went flying like shrapnel right at his face. Luckily for him, it struck his safety glasses, rather than his eye. Safety practices like these saved limbs, eyes, and lives. Others weren't so lucky. The picture below shows a worker whose arm was damaged in the gears of a machine after his ring was caught in the machine.