Earliest Records of Occupational Health Safety and Industrial Revolution since 1802-1974 - Assignment Example

EARLIEST RECORDS OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SAFETY AND INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION SINCE 1802-1974 PERIOD SAFETY ACTS HISTORICAL EVENTS INVOLVED INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION 1802 1802 MORALS OF APPRENTICES ACT (First factory Act) Advocated by Sir Robert Peel to improve the working standards. Employers in mill factories required to improve working conditions of employers e.g. accommodation, apprenticeship and safety clothing at work. Concern on the poor health of children working in cotton mills. Evidenced by 1784 outbreak of a "malignant fever" at Sir Peel’s cotton mills. The iron by Abraham Darby and cotton milling of Lancashire industries had been established by early 18th century in the UK. 1822 1832 GREAT REFORMS ACT Abolishment of slavery in the United Kingdom by 1833. Reformation of Poor laws also done. 1833 FACTORY ACT Due to the exhaustive hours of work for the employers especially in the cotton mills. Children barely having energy to read after work. Section 17 of the 1833 act declared the unfortunate violation of laws for regulation of labor of children in factories. 1829 Due to public outrage on the increasing number of women and children employers from poor backgrounds 1831 Worst riot occurred in Bristol that was put down by Dragoons upon defeat of bill passed by the common. 1837 First ever successful case of an employee against his employer. (Case of Priestley vs Fowler). This led to principle need of employers to care for their workers without breach of contract. 1842 1844 THE SAFETY FACTOR ACT The need to improve the safety of workers. Prohibition of women and young children from cleaning shafting and other machinery that was in motion (section 20). Protection of children by securing and fencing of hoists, water-wheels and fly-wheels (section 21) Appointment of certified surgeons to offer medical services to employees in case of accidents as well as inspectors for the factories. 1849 Revolution of Corliss steam engine to improve industrial production and railway transport (Thomson, 2009) 1862 1867 FACTORY ACT The massive transfer of several responsibilities from factory occupiers to the owners of the machines and factories themselves. More authority empowerment to factory inspectors to issue notice of unsafe working conditions. Widening the scope of laws to include any premises with more than 50 employees in a manufacturing area. 1878 FACTORY AND WORKSHOP ACT Protection against the employment of children below ten years old, while those between 10-14 years, working for half a day. Also regulation on working hours for women. Intent for Inclusion of other manufacturing industries within the scope of the same laws. 1862 With the increase in the specified trades and factories, there was need to widen the scope of factory regulation laws 1878 The annual reports by Redgrave based on advanced accident protection saw inspectors being viewed as educators Worker’s compensation rights Compensation for specific workers injuries were provided for in the law of Ur (Guyton, 1999). 1881 The generation of electricity became viable by this time in the UK (Poulter, 1986). 1882 1891 FACTORY ACT Enactment of special rules. Powers given to Secretary of State to approve the safety of machinery. Increased minimum age of employment to eleven years. Introduction of the safety requirements to aid in escape in case of fire. 1893 LADY FACTORY INSPECTORS The appointment of women inspectorates to handle the inspection matters. 1901 FACTORY AND WORKSHOP ACT Important consolidation exercise on the Special rules made by Secretary of State on the assessment of the safety of machinery 1891 Successful campaigns of S. Oram, for the appointment of women being pursued by the Women’s Protective and Provident League and the London Women’s Council. 1902 1906 WORKERS ACT The 1906 Act on workers compensation became more extensive to cover other six industrial diseases like toxic poisoning. 1918 Great world war took place in this period. Several factories were used for necessities of the war and thereby employment of women in great numbers. 1920 The industrial revolution of mining and quarries industry by early 1920s as well as mining acts to regulate its activities 1942 1959 FACTORIES ACT Regulation was made for potteries, metal grinding and testing of aircrafts engines. FIRE PRECAUTIONS ACT 1959 Improving provisions of fire safety policies 1956 Disastrous fire in 1956 of Keighley mill. Death of six women and two men Blamed on lack of fire escape and fire alarms 1962 1972 The Robens report that indicated that the primary responsibility of safety at work was for those who created the risk and those working with them. Amendments done on the statutory laws for inspection of machinery so as to be more constructive. 1972 HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK Modernization of health and safety laws, codes of practices and guidance and incorporating both employers and employees in the self regulatory process REFERENCES Australian Government . The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Chapter 7. http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/model-whs-laws/background/pages/background##4 Australian Government. 1833 Factory Act. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/1833-factory-act/ Australian Government . Workplace health and Safety. http://www.australia.gov.au/information-and-services/health/workplace-health-and-safety Charles J. (2010). Medical History. Origins, History, and Achievements of the World Health Organization. Britain Medical Journal 1968(2). p293-296. Huang C. (2010). A history of the International Organisation. The National UAE Magazine. Hounshell D. (1984). From the American System to Mass Production, 1800-1932: The Development of Manufacturing Technology in the United States. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. Hutchins L and Harison A. (1911). A History of Factory Legislation. Social sciences and Economics Guyton G. (1999). A Brief history of Workers’ Compensation. Iowa Orthopaedic Journal. 19 Michael B. (1973). The Great Reform Act. London: Hutchinson Press. Poulter J. (1986). An early history of electricity supply. London: Peter Peregrinus Ltd. Price F and Shawn K. (2000). A Prelude to the Welfare State: The Origins of Workers' Compensation. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Report of the Court of Inquiry (1975). The Flixborough Disaster. HMSO. Ross T. (2009). Structures of Change in the Mechanical Age: Technological Invention in the United States 1790-1865. Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press. p83–85. The 1844 Factory Act. http://www.euro-info.org.uk/towards-economic-unity-transport-and-communications/the-1844-factory-act.php Ursula R. (1971).The early Factory Acts and their enforcement. Historical Association Publication. Read More