OSHA PEOPLE

Hippocrates (460-370 BC)

Recognized dangers of metal working

pliny the elder (23-79 AD)

Wrote the encyclopedic naturalis Historia, recognized dangers of inhalation of dust. died in the eruption fo Mt Vesuvius in Pompii

Galen (129-200 ad)

greek physician outlined the pathological aspects of lead toxicity and the dangers of copper mining acid mists.

Paracelsus (1494-1541)

swiss born physician who described toxicology and dose response for chemicals. Renaissance leader

Agricola (1494-1555)

lived in Germany and described the environmental and occupational hazards of mining.  Trained as a mineralogist and studied metals.

Bernardino Ramazzini )1633-1714)

Father of occupational medicine

Sir Percival Pott (1714-1788)

English surgeon who recognized the connection with chimney sweeps and testicular cancer

Charles Turner Thackrah (1795-1833)

His book, The Effects of the Principal Arts, Trades and Professions… on Health and Longevity.  Made people aware of working conditions in the Industrial Revolution.  

Dr. Alice Hamilton   (1869-1970)

Created awareness of phossy jaw and the dangers of white phosphorus.  The white phosphorus was replaced with red phosphorus.  Her work led to improvements in safety and regulation, and is sometimes credited with leading to the founding of OSHA. Exposure to white phosphorus, a key ingredient in strike-anywhere matches.

Caisson disease

sickness or the bends, is a medical condition that occurs when nitrogen gas bubbles form in the body's tissues and blood during a rapid decrease in pressure. This typically happens during scuba diving, high-altitude flying, or working in pressurized environments. 

First recognized in 1873 during the construction of Brooklyn Bridge

Triangle Shirtwaist Company Fire 

146 women died in NYC workplace fire in 1911

This event changed how Americans viewed workplace safety and safety regulations. 

Frances Perkins (1880-1965)

 witnessed the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in 1911 and was later a leader in the fight for workplace safety.  She was a workers-rights advocate who served as the fourth United States Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945, the longest serving in that position. From the Great Depression to the end of WWII.

Cesar Chavez (1927-1993)

American civil rights leader and labor organizer who helped farm workers.  He worked to improve conditions for migrant workers and farm workers in California and other parts of the western US.

Gauley Bridge Disaster

also known as Hawk’s Nest Tunnel
started in 1931 when a tunnel drilling project exposed workers to lethal levels
of silica dust.  

Railroad workers

railroad workers made up 1 in 25
workers in the country.  Dangerous work
and an important part of the economy.

Coconut Grove fire i

in Boston in 1942 killed 492 people at a
night club.

What is globalization

• Markets, trade, and investments become more intertwined, with fewer barriers slowing the flow of products and services between nations. 

• Innovations in transportation and communication facilitate faster and more widespread movement of people, ideas, and goods.  (fiber optic internet connections have been a big factor

Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is the science, engineering, and technology involving the understanding and control of matter at the nanoscale, which is approximately 1 to 100 nanometers. At this ultra-small scale, materials can exhibit unique physical, chemical, and biological properties that are not possible at a larger scale.

Green jobs

Green jobs include roles in renewable energy, such as wind turbine technicians and solar installers; sustainable agriculture, like organic farming and sustainable forestry; environmental management and conservation, such as environmental scientists and park rangers; and green construction, involving green building architects and sustainable construction materials. 

Child Labor in Developing Countries

Child labor was common in England during the 19th-century when the Industrial Revolution was in full swing.  Currently, child labor is a problem of particular concern for developing countries.  

Women Workers

Globally, participation of women in the workforce has increased steadily, especially in rapidly industrializing Asian countries.

Immigrant workers

Immigrant workers form a vital and growing part of the U.S. labor force, contributing significantly to economic growth and filling essential labor needs across various sectors, including agriculture, construction, and services. They represent a substantial portion of workers, with their presence bolstering the overall U.S. economy by adding needed labor and helping to prevent labor shortages. How migrant workers are vital to the U.S. economy - CBS News