Antiquity and Middle Ages:

The slaves played an important role in the productive activities of the ancient world, because they
were the ones who performed the most arduous and risky tasks. We can even say that work has
always been associated with slavery and physical exertion.

Slaves played an important role in the productive activities of the ancient world.

Egypt is one of the civilizations of the ancient world that has had remarkable innovations in
occupational health and safety. In Egypt, for example, harnesses, sandals and scaffolding were
used as safety implements. These devices were used by the slaves who were dedicated to build
the pyramids and sphinxes that adorned the Egyptian city.

Egypt is one of the civilizations of the ancient world that has had remarkable innovations in
occupational health and safety.

The time of important advances for the workers in Greece, took place between centuries VI and IV
a.c. Where with the construction of the Great Acropolis developed the differentiated work. The
major contributions on occupational medicine in Greece occurred in the field of mining work and
that of poisoning diseases. The father of medicine, Hippocrates (460-370 BC) wrote a treatise on
miners' illnesses, which he recommended taking hygienic toilets to avoid lead saturation.

The father of medicine, Hippocrates, wrote a treatise on the diseases of miners.

384-322 a.c.

Aristotle, Greek philosopher and naturalist, also intervened in the occupational health of his time,
as he studied certain physical deformations produced by occupational activities, raising the need
for their prevention. He also investigated diseases caused by lead poisoning.

62 -113 d.c.

In Rome, mercury toxicity was described by Pliny and Galen. They referred to the dangers of sulfur
and zinc management and enunciated various preventive rules for workers in lead and mercury
mines. For example, he recommended to miners the use of respirators manufactured with animal
bladders.

As Rome was the cradle of law and jurisprudence, in addition to the laws of conduct and
protection of private property, legal measures were also taken on health, such as the installation
of public restrooms and protection for workers.

130-200 d.c.

Another notable figure of Rome was Galen who after Hippocrates is considered like the most
important doctor of the old world in the West. Galen studied the diseases of the miners, the
tanners and the gladiators. It also mentions diseases associated with lead vapors and respiratory
diseases in mine workers.

Galen studied the diseases of the miners, the tanners and the gladiators.

Renaissance

In France the first universities were founded in the tenth century and the first laws that protect
the workers also emerge. It would be in the laws that underpinned the first advances towards the
formalization of labor security.

1413 -1417

The 'Ordinances of France' which ensure the safety of the working class are ruled.

1473

In Germany, a pamphlet drawn up by Ulrich Ellenbaf, which identifies some occupational diseases,
is published. This would be the first printed document dealing with safety and was one of the first
texts on occupational health.

In the Renaissance, two men - Agricola and Paracelsus - describe in their works, occupational
diseases and their respective systems of protection, making important contributions to
occupational hygiene.

Modern age

Kircher writes Mundus subterraneus where he describes some symptoms and signs of miners'
diseases such as cough, dyspnea and cachexia.

1665: Walter Pope publishes Philosophical transactions where he refers the diseases of the miners
produced by the poisonings with mercury.

Ramazzini set a very important precedent in occupational health, but with the nascent industry of
the eighteenth century, the interest of scientists focused on the technical aspects of work first and
safety later, so that occupational health would pass through a Latency until the end of the 19th
century.

Occupational health would go through a period of latency until the end of the 19th century.

Industrial Revolution

1500 - XVIIIth Century

Progressed the manual industries, thanks to the creation of the crank, the water pumps, the
shuttle shuttle of Kay.

1736 -1819
James Watt invents the steam engine, perfecting the above-mentioned artifacts and thereby
initiates the process of mechanization of production and transportation systems.

Laborally, craft trades were replaced by mass production. The migrant peasants did not receive
the salary they expected but were forced to work in subhuman conditions because they had no
choice. As the number of migrants surpassed the capacity of cities, population density increased
and crowding increased and disease and epidemics proliferated. Health and safety conditions
were minimal, partly due to the number of workers, but mainly because of the lack of an efficient
safety culture, both on the part of workers and workers, as well as employers. Two-thirds of the
workers were women and children, who, in addition to being exploited, were not provided with
the necessary security conditions, so that many children and women were injured, mutilated or
died in tragic but recurring accidents.

Due to this difficult situation, laws began to be implemented to protect workers.

1778

In Spain Carlos III gave the decree of protection against accidents.

1802

The English Parliament gives the regulation of work in factories that limits the working day and
sets minimum levels for the hygiene, the health and the education of the workers.

1828

Robert Owen launches a program for the environmental, educational and moral improvement of
the workers. Two years later, Robert Backer proposed that a doctor should make a daily visit to
the factories.

1841

The child labor law emerges.

1844

Laws that protect women appear. In Manchester the machines operated without protection. And
it would not be until 1877 that it was ordered to place resguardos to the machines.

Similar laws have already been in place since 1855, such as the ventilation and protection of
disused tunnels, signaling, the use of pressure gauges and valves suitable for steam boilers, and
the requirement for indicators and brakes in the case of equipment lifting devices.

Karl Marx (1818-1883) and Frederic Engels (1820-1895), who were interested in the rights of
workers, are the promoters of unionization that would serve as a channel for improving working
conditions, including security.

On May 4, 1886, the Chicago Revolt took place, culminating in the fair establishment of the eight
hours of work.

1848
Health legislation was initiated for industry.

Two years later inspections begin to verify compliance with the rules, which would have legal
support.

The first fire extinguishing system was implemented by Frederic Grinnell in 1850 in the United
States.

1867

A law appointing the inspectors in the factories was promulgated.

1868

Workers' Compensation Laws Appear 9. Max von Pettenkofer (1818-1901) founded the first
Institute of Hygiene in Munich in 1875.

1874

England and France were the countries that led the formalization of health and occupational
safety in Europe.

1890

Legislation that protects society and workers against occupational hazards is widespread
throughout the world.

1911

The State of Wisconsin passed the first law regulating workers' compensation.

Twentieth century

Along with all the technical advances that made possible the passage to the twentieth century
with the massification of electrical energy sources or thermodynamics in homes and industry,
respectively; Theories and conceptions about labor administration also put their share in the
process of formalization of security that culminated in the institutionalization of industrial security.

1918

Harvard University was the first house of higher studies that granted the title of degree in Security
and Hygiene in the Work.

In 1918 the International Labor Organization (ILO) began to operate. Another important event was
the treaty of Versailles, which in its twelfth installment established principles that would later be
taken by the ILO, so that in 1921 its Accident Prevention Service was created.

In 1918 also appears the American School with Heinrich, Simonds, Grimaldi and Birds; Which
proposed an analytical and preventive approach to accidents.

The earliest references to damage to human hearing caused by noise are found in the Sanitatis
Salerenitarum Regime which was written in 1150.
By 1960, industrial safety is already a science and a profession, whose contributions to industry
and labor are valued while eliminating or minimizing occupational hazards, allowing to reduce the
economic costs that affect production.

At present, industrial security has generated great interest on the part of businessmen, workers
and politicians. In particular, governments have invested money in the dissemination of safety
standards and in the periodic inspection of companies, factories and industries through various
control bodies.