Industrial and Occupational Environment and Health

Abstract

In 1940, the labor force of the united states included fifty-three million persons, or 40 per cent of the population. This large group of workers is a major group to consider in improving the health status of our population and in providing services for the maintenance of good health. Perhaps the most logical approach in the problem of social medicine is to work with this group, to study the problems of these workers and to build a satisfactory health program. An excellent opportunity is provided to determine the influence of the industrial and occupational environment on health by the study of the physical condition of workers through pre-employment and periodic examinations and of rates of illness and injury and of death. Preventive and treatment services may be integrated. Industrial plants employ a large proportion of the members of the labor force. These workers report for work each day and it is possible to obtain records of illnesses and injuries. Although the opportunity exists, little progress has been made in the United States in the study of morbidity and mortality statistics of industrial workers. The first step would be to learn the frequency of illness and injury and the death rate of these workers. Such information should be used for the development of complete industrial health programs. Selected material relating to industrial and occupational environment and health from morbidity and mortality statistics will be used in this discussion. This paper has been divided into three sections, namely, (1) Studies of Mortality Statistics, (2) Studies of Morbidity Statistics, and (3) Summary and Recommendations.