History of Occupational health

Lecture on History of Occupational health

1. History of Occupational M edicine Dr A Adeniran MBBS, MPH, FMCPH Consultant Public Health Physician Lagos State University (College of Medicine) Nigeria

2. introduction Slave labour was rampant in the olden times to build many of the wonders of the ancient world in Egypt, R ome & other places They were subjected to harsh conditions and many died in the process Things remained the same until 16 th & 17 th centuries when the early medical pioneers in the field of health & safety at work such as G eorgius Agricola & Bernardino R amazzini appeared on scene

3. G eorgius Agricola: 1494 - 1555 Devoted to working conditions in mines & industries especially mining accidents & illnesses

4. Bernardino R amazzini : 1633 - 1714 Physician & a professor of medicine Known as the father of occupational medicine

5. Industrial Revolution in Britain Started in the 18 th century Resulted in the employment of women & children in factories who had to work long hours under unhealthy conditions Both medical practitioners & laymen fought against these ills Dr Charles Turner T hachrah (1795 – 1833) & lord Anthony Ashley Cooper (1801 – 1885) were foremost in these fight Dr Charles Turner T hachrah was known as “father of British industrial medicine”

6. S ir Thomas Morrison L egge (1863 – 1932) A doctor for the first time was involved when in 1898 sir Thomas Morrison L egge (1863 – 1932) was appointed the first British medical factory inspector He introduced the idea of occupational disease notification especially lead He stressed the preventive aspects of occupational health practices = L egge’s aphorism

7. L egge’s aphorism 1. Unless and until the employer has done everything, the workman can do next to nothing to protect himself, although he’s willing to do his part 2. If you can bring an influence to bear external to the workman-that is one over which he has no control-you will be successful; and if you cannot or do not, you will never be wholly successful

8. Legge’s aphorism Contd 3. Practically , all industrial lead poisoning is due to the inhalation of dusts & fumes, and if you stop their inhalation, you stop the poisoning 4. All workmen should be told something of the danger of the materials with which they come in contact, and not be left to find it out themselves- sometimes at the cost of their lives

9. UK regulations Factories act of 1833: regulate the labour of children & young persons in factories Factories act of 1884: provided for the appointment of a certifying surgeon who will examine young persons and declare them fit for factory employment Factories act of 1948: changed the name to appointed factory doctor

10. International Occupational Health The oldest international body in modern times concerned with global health & safety of people at work is ILO

11. International L abour O rganization (ILO) Founded in 1919 under the league of nations Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland Tripartite body made up of reps of government, employers and workers Its health work includes safety & health of all types of workers especially from chemical & other industrial risks, hygiene of seamen, social & medical insurance systems and workman’s compensation.

12. World health organization (WHO) Founded in 1948 Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland Its major stride in the field of occupation health (OH) started with the report of first joint WHO/ILO committee on occupational health in 1950 which stated the purpose of OH: OH should aim at the promotion & maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental & social wellbeing of workers in all occupations……

13. OH in Africa/ N igeria Started with employment of GPs on either parttime or full time basis in few organizations such as UAC, J ohn H olt etc In 1969, the Nigerian government requested & obtained a technical assistance from ILO on the development of occupational health

14. C onclusion OH is still evolving in Africa especially Nigeria, and there is still a lot of room for improvement

15. Q uestions

16. Further Readings Asogwa SE, A Guide to Occupational Health Practice in Developing Countries, 2007