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WARTIME SOCIAL SURVEY
WORKING CLOTHES
New Series Regional I.2

Men’s Shirts

I TYPE WORN AND TYPE BEST FOR WORK

Half those interviewed preferred cotton or drill shirts, the proportions being slightly lower in the heat and burning group and slightly higher among agricultural workers.

There are no considerable discrepancies between the proportions wearing and preferring the different types of shirts in the four hazard groups.

(Note. The following information was collected by investigators working on this inquiry. “Acid workers say there is no substitute for Welsh flannel.” “Workers in the North of England use and prize Union flannel”. Agricultural workers in some parts said that khaki drill shirts don’t absorb sweat and that ordinary cotton or “Oxford” shirts are best for this purpose.)

The numbers who had been in their jobs less than two years are insufficient to give breakdowns by old and new workers.

Breakdowns of type worn by types preferred in the different hazard groups are given only in the case of those preferring cotton shirts, as the numbers preferring other types are insufficient to give statistically reliable results.

In the case of the oil, grease and fats group, almost all of those who preferred cotton shirts were wearing them.

II ALTERNATIVE TYPES

Workers were asked to say what sort of shirt would do as an alternative to best type. Numbers of men in the oil, grease and fats hazard group who gave preferences are too small to justify inclusion.

III REASONS FOR PREFERENCE

(Percentages add to more than 100 because more than one reason was often given)

Cotton and twill are preferred largely because they are durable, flannel because it absorbs sweat and is warm.

IV ANALYSIS BY REGION

The proportions in the different hazard groups were distributed as follows:

Regional figures showing the types preferred should be considered in conjunction with the analysis given above, as the proportions in different hazard groups in the five areas are different. Also the numbers in London and Scotland are very small. (See Analysis by Areas and Hazard Group in Men’s Footwear report, p.12).

V WHERE SHIRTS WERE OBTAINED

Men obtained their shirts from different sources in the following proportions

Cotton, twill and flannel shirts were obtained from different sources in the following proportions:

Breakdown by region is as follows:

VI EXTENT TO WHICH MEN HAD TRIED TO BUY SHIRTS SINCE CHRISTMAS

17% of those who tried had difficulty. Numbers are too small to give results for subsequent questions.

Women’s Footwear

An inquiry made for the Board of Trade by Wartime Social Survey. Field work was in progress from April 29th to May 11th 1943.

It has not been possible to obtain thoroughly accurate information as to whether the numbers of workers interviewed in each hazard group in the five different areas as strictly representative of the proportions actually working with these hazards in each area. The sample was, however, planned on the basis of all available information of this nature.