Introduction to Safety Then and Now The Safety Movement in the United States

Reason for this course Occupational Safety and Health in the workplace has undergone drastic changes in the past twenty years. The reasons for this are numerous. Some of the more important reasons include: technological changes that created new hazards, creation of new safety and health legislation, increased pressure from certain regulatory agencies, executives realizing that safe and healthy environments encourage increased productivity, an increase in the cost of health care and worker’s compensation, pressure from environmental groups, pressure from the public, pressure from labor organizations, professionalization of the health and safety occupations, cost of product safety litigation and, increased workplace violence. When put together, all of these factors make the job of the skilled trades professional more challenging and more important than ever before and a need for an updated Safety training program that includes the most recent information available.

Accidents were Common Place in the Early 1900’s 1907:3200 people killed Today:4 per 100K (NSC) Reasons for Change: Cost, Pressure for Legislation and, Professionalization of Safety as an Occupation Safety is not a new concept

Evidence of Safety in ancient civilization. Hammurabi: 2000 B.C. His code contained clauses for dealing with injuries, doctor’s fees and, monetary awards from those who injure others. Rameses II 1500 B.C. Created an ancient “EMS” to care for slaves and developed requirements of hygiene. Roman Empire: 1567 Provided medical care for workers.

Historical Knowledge of Diseases 1567-Philippus Aureolus: Treatise on the pulmonary diseases of miners. This work also identified health risks of handling Mercury. 1700-Bernardino Ramizzini: Treatise on “workers diseases: Correlation between occupations and injuries. 1964-Dr. Irving J. Selikoff: Reported on the effects of asbestos at a conference. 1900- Fredrick Taylor: A factors influencing efficiency in manufacturing.

The Industrial Revolution Steam Power Machines New Ways of Raw Material Conversion A Division of Labor These factors created a need to focus on the safety and health of workers. The introduction of steam power created the potential for life threatening injuries as did all machines. The new methods introduced for converting raw materials also created risks and new ways to get hurt or sick. Specialization of labor increased boredom and, therefore, the possibility of inattentiveness which promotes a more dangerous work environment.

Significant Achievements in the Safety Movement (A time line of events) Health and Morals of Apprentices Act: 1802-England Factory Inspection: 1867-Massachusetts First Barrier: 1868 Pennsylvania: 1869 Mine Safety Law Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): 1869 Massachusetts: 1877 Requirement of Guards on Hazardous Equipment

Significant Achievements in the Safety Movement (A time line of events) Employer’s Liability Law: 1877 First Safety Program: 1892 Illinois Fredrick Taylor Study: 1900 Safety and Management connection with Lost Time Bureau of Mines: 1907 Investigate Accidents-Examine Health Hazards

Significant Achievements in the Safety Movement (A time line of events) Workers Compensation Idea: 1908 (Federal Employees) First Effective Worker’s Compensation, Wisconsin: 1911 First Cooperative Safety Congress meets in Milwaukee: 1912 National Council of Industrial Safety formed: 1913 National Safety Council is formed: 1915

Significant Achievements in the Safety Movement (A time line of events) Concept of Negligent Manufacture: 1916 U.S. Secretary of Labor convenes the 1st National Silicosis Conference: 1936 Occupational Safety and Health Act Passed: 1970 Federal Mine Safety Act Passed: 1977 Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act Passed: 1986 Amended Clean Air Act of 1970 Passed: 1990 Total Safety Management Concept: 1996 ISO 14000 sought by U.S. firms for environmental safety management: 2000 Workplace Terrorism becomes a growing concern of S&H professionals: 2003

Tragedies that Caused Change Hawk’s Nest Incident (1930s,) “Now why don’t he write home?” Asbestos/Asbestosis (1964) Dr. Irving J. Selikoff reports on the effects of asbestos on workers exposed to it. Bhopal/Union Carbide (1984)

The Role of Organized Labor Safer Working Conditions Worker Compensation Overturn Anti-labor Laws/Fellow Servant Rule

Specific Health Problems Lung Diseases and Law Enactment Gauley Bridge Disaster Mercury Poisoning

Development of Accident Prevention Programs The 3 E’s of Safety

Development of Safety Organizations National Safety Council (NSC):1915 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

Safety and Health Today OSHA and the Integrated Approach: Employers must provide appropriate medical treatment for injuries and illness. Employees that have been exposed to toxic substances must be examined regularly. Employers must have a qualified first-aid person present during all working hours.

Lesson Review 1. List some of the early causes that have had the greatest impact on Workplace Safety to date. 2. What does the “Code of Hammurabi” have to do with Safety History? 3. What circumstances where responsible for the first safety program? 4. How is Fredrick Taylor connected to the safety movement? 5. Explain the development of the National Safety Council. 6. What impact did labor shortages in WWII have on the safety movement? 7. Explain how workplace tragedies have affected the safety movement? List examples. 8. Explain the primary reasons behind passage of the OSHA act. 9. What role did organized labor have on the safety movement? 10. Explain the three E’s of safety.