HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

1
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

• ..a brief overview of the history of
  develop-ment of the profession of occupational
  health into what is now called industrial
  hygiene.

2
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTHAbbreviated History

• 400 BC, Hippocrates observed miners
  recognized lead toxicity
• 100 AD, Pliny the Elder published an
  encyclopaedia proposed use of bladder for
  respirator
• 200, Galen described lead pathology
• 1473, Ellenborg published on occupational
  diseases, some prevention advice

3
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTHAbbreviated History

• 1556, Agricola described miners diseases
• 1770, Ramazzini, father of industrial medicine
  accurate descriptions of disease
• 1800s, Thackrah studied prevention of disease in
  industrialized England
• 1837, first article on occupational disease in
  the United States (Thackrahs work)
• 1900s Dr. Alice Hamilton, investigated many
  dangerous occupations

4
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTHAbbreviated History

• 1910-15, formation of USDOL, USBM, state
  departments
• 1914, USPHS (predecessor of NIOSH)
• 1932-4, deaths from silicosis gtA.H.F.
• 1939, formation of American Industrial Hygiene
  Association
• 1959, definition of industrial hygiene

5
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTHCurrent Situation

• the alphabet soup of industrial hygiene AIHA,
  ACGIH, ABIH
• approximately 18,000 industrial hygienists
• approximately 8,000 CIHs
• currently where the action is among the safety
  sciences

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Role of Industrial Hygienist

• May be specialized in sub-disciplines
• Their work may overlap with other professionals
• What is their task focus?