-
4000 BCE
In Egypt...
Egypt warriors, embalmers and weapons manufacturers had laws to do their job and avoid accidents, given by the pharaoh -
1750 BCE
In Mesopotamia...
The oldest code of occupational safety laws was created by the King Hammurabi -
370 BCE
In Ancient Greece...
Hippocrates was the first to speak of work-related illness, lead poisoning among workers in the mines, it was said that the miners had "colico saturnino" -
70
Pliny The Elder
Was the person who described some of the occupational diseases and classifies them in the book named "Slaved Diseases" -
200
Galen and Celsus
Both made brief comments on diseases due to occupational exposures -
Period: 476 to 1453
Middle Age
In Italy, the rotary edicts are published, which were among the first legislative norms destined to protect occupational accidents in workers -
1473
Ellen Bog
He discovered that some vapors of some metals can be dangerous, in addition he described the symptoms of industrial poisoning by lead and mercury -
1555
Georgius Agricola
He gave the First evidence that some particles produced asthma and ulcerations in the lungs, Caused by working conditions in mines and industries especially mining accidents and illnesses -
1560
Paracelso
In his work titled “The tuberculosis and other diseases of the miners” Describes lung diseases, given by the lack of elements of occupational safety -
Bernardino Ramazzini
He created the first full treaty of occupational diseases for the lack of job security, believed that the state has the obligation to protect workers -
In Spain...
Carlos III gave the edict of protection against accidents -
In France...
The medicine academy continue to refer to workers' accidents -
In Italy...
Protection is given to pregnant women, numerous studies on pregnancy appear and work is exempt in the last trimester of pregnancy. -
Period: to
Industrial Revolution
- The figure of public health is born. Occupational health and safety services, attention to working conditions and prevention of occupational diseases were also created.
- Dr Charles Turner Thachrah was known as “father of British industrial medicine”
-
The English Parliament
Gives regulation of factory work, which limits working hours and sets minimum levels of hygiene, health and education for workers -
Robert Owen
Started a program for the environmental, educational and moral improvement of workers -
Guizot Law
Was created in France and prohibited children under eight years of age from working in manufactures, factories and workshops with mechanical or continuous force motors, and in any factory that brought together more than two hundred workers in the same facility. -
Law of Work for Women
Women and young people would work no more than 12 hours the first 5 days of the week, with an hour and a half destined to feed themselves and 9 on Saturdays. -
Max von Pettenkofer
Founded the first Institute of Hygiene in Munich -
The Haymarket affair
Culminated with the establishment of 8 hours of work and it's declared as the International Worker's Day -
Thomas Morrison Legge
Was appointed the first British medical factory inspector:
- He introduced the idea of occupational disease notification especially of lead
- He stressed the preventive aspects of occupational health practices = Legge’s aphorism -
The State of Wisconsin
Passed the first law regulating workers' compensation -
In USA...
Appears first school that awards diploma of industrial hygiene -
In Versailles
Appears the world organization of work ; Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland founded the International Labour Organization (ILO) -
The WHO and ILO
The first session of the joint ILO / WHO committee on occupational health constituted -
In Nigeria
The Nigerian government requested & obtained a technical assistance from ILO on the development of occupational health -
New law in USA
The law of security and occupational hygiene is published -
Bill 139
Establishes the Employes Health and Safety Act. The Minister can order joint committees. -
Bill 70
Establishes the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Mandatory joint committees in many workplaces. -
Issuance of the regulation of hygiene and safety at work
Where the guidelines of working in areas of healthy environment are given -
Evolution of occupational medicine and the environment
Moving away from the orthopedic-traumatological approach of an “industrial or business medicine”. -
Bill 79
Adds Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System to the Occupational Health and Safety Act. -
Bill 208
Amends the Occupational Health and Safety Act, broadening the requirement for joint committees. Establishes certified members and the right to stop work. -
In La Paz, Bolivia...
They accept the methodology presented by the OIT for the harmonization in the countries of the andean group. -
The function of the Occupational Physician
To play a role in the reduction of illnesses and injuries, in the alleviation of suffering and in protecting the health of people throughout their lives. -
The Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974
Continues to form the basis of the workplace safety law in the United Kingdom, and influenced the legislation of Europe, New Zealand and other parts of the world. While the principles have remained largely the same, the Law continues to see updates and reforms along with the evolution of the workplace and the new health and safety challenges that arise.
