Radium is used more safely today and for different reasons. It is still used in certain applications, such as industrial radiography. However, scientists' approach to using radium in labs and for medical reasons has majorly changed. The safety measures being taken today include wearing disposable gloves when handling radium and storing radium devices in secure locations.
Safety Regulations
Scientist working with radioactive material, uatom.org, March 31, 2017
Coursey, Bert Radium scientist and historian. Interview. Conducted by Olivia Bushey, Emma Ristau, and Braylee Rue. 30 November 2023.
Due to the precautions being taken towards radium, Marie Curie's books containing radioactive materials from her studies with the element are locked up in lead-lined boxes.
One of Marie Curie's notebooks, Open Culture, July 2015
"Their case was one of several that highlighted the need for a national body to investigate workplace health and safety and uphold the laws relating to it, and so OSHA was established in the 1970s, which still works nationally to protect workers, saving thousands of lives."
~ Kate Moore, Author
President Nixon signing OSHA, SmartSign, 1970
The lawsuit filed against the companies the Radium Girls worked for became a turning point, as new labor laws were passed to prevent things like this from occurring in the future.
In 1970, the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) was passed. This act ensures that employers give their employees a safe working environment, without health and safety hazards. OSHA standards include prevention of exposure to infectious disease and harmful chemicals, along with providing safety equipment. OSHA also has a program in which workers are protected from retaliation from their employers when filing complaints about unsafe or unhealthy work environments.
Catlin, Mark. “Key Remarks of President Nixon at the OSHA Signing Ceremony 1970”
“I think it was a dramatic turning point scientifically and for safety standards for those working in radioactive industries.”
~ Kate Moore, Author
Through the bravery and sacrifice of the Radium Girls, workplace safety turned into a national priority throughout the 20th century and beyond.
Radium Girl Statue in Ottawa, Illinois, hmdb.org, July 10, 2022