Evolution of Modern Health & Safety Concepts

Evolution of Modern Health & Safety Concepts Tracing the historical development of heath & safety concerns and programs Robert Emery, DrPH, CHP, CIH, CSP, RBP, CHMM, CPP, ARM Vice President for Safety, Health, Environment & Risk Management The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Associate Professor of Occupational Health The University of Texas School of Public Health

Earliest Civilization • Family groups expanded to tribes • Represented common interests, kinship • A practical principle developed: • the greatest ultimate good for the greatest number • thus, a person was not as important as the tribe, unless of course, it was the chief

As Tribes Evolved • Successes of one tribe meant the downfall of another • Safety concerns centered around the tribe, and for select individuals • Only when a proliferation of injuries or illnesses afflicted large or noticeable numbers of individuals did the tribe act

As Tribes Evolved • The first actions were probably against disease (great plagues) • Accidents were, for the most part, considered personal matters

First Control of “Accidents” • Punishing countermeasures, not direct prevention • Hammurabi (2100 BC) ordered a compilation of a body of laws for Babylon • Known as the Code of Hammurabi, the rules were carved in cuneiform, now located in Paris

Code of Hammurabi Examples • If shipping by sea and freight lost, must reimburse owner • If ship sank but was re-floated, half price reimbursement • If caused by a collision, decision of blame was based on who was anchored first

Code of Hammurabi Examples • If a slave were injured (by other than the master) must pay master • If an ox gores a man, the act is only compensible if the ox was known to be mean

Primary Motivation of Babylonians • Redress for damages • If prevention was intended, it was only an outcome of the punishing indemnification schedules

Focusing on Occupational Hazards • In ancient times, most of the manual labor was performed by slaves • Slaves were considered to be valuable capital assets • Pliney the Elder (AD 23-79) wrote of the diseases of slaves

Focusing on Occupational Hazards • Bernardo Ramazzini (1600’s) described diseases associated with various occupations • English Labor Regulations • excesses of apprentice system (children and subsequently women) • limits for mining operations (no children, women) • factory regulations for machine guarding

Interesting Question • Why didn’t employers take control of situation to avoid the imposition of regulations?

Follow-up Question • How many successful prosecutions do you think occurred?

The Indemnification/Enforcement Approach • Advent of Worker’s Compensation • Master-servant relationship was historically close • Master concept has since grown into, perhaps, a corporation • Injured workes sought protection, indemnification, redress

Worker’s Compensation • Three ironclad defenses: • contributory negligence • assumption of risk • fellow servant rule • Also, what employee would want to sue their employer? And what fellow employees might serve as witnesses?

Worker’s Compensation • No fault insurance system developed • The only proof needed was that the injury occurred on the job • In general, medical bills covered, and a portion of salary provided • Events categorized as temporary or permanent, partial or total.

Worker’s Compensation • Casualty insurance carriers motivated to keep accidents to a minimum • Insurance companies initated safety inspection services • what about this shift of attention and perhaps liability) from employer to insurance company?

Experience Rating System • Problem overcome by use of experience rating system, which affected rates • (what about disincentive to report?) • Need for uniformity in reporting arose • In 1937, the ANSI Z16.1 method for compiling work injury data, was developed

Other Notable Events • Public safety concerns and product liability laws • Advent of OSHA, 1970 • Environmental concerns • Evolution of specialties – industrial hygiene, health physics, biosafety • Other regulations, guidelines, standards of care

Age of Selected Safety-Related Organizations(and parallel certifications) (CBSP)

Review • The concept of safety evolved from a population-based, or tribal, approach • The first safety controls were punishing countermeasures • Indemnification approach evolved into worker’s compensation system • The master-servant relationship has changed dramatically

Reference • Grimaldi, JV; Simonds, RH; Safety Management, Fifth Edition. American Society of Safety Enigneers, 1993.

In Class Exercise • What does the health and safety function within an organization do today? • What is its mission? • Who are the stakeholders? • What are the hazards/risks? • How are they controlled or managed? • How are they evaluated, and by whom?

Evolution of Modern Health & Safety Concepts