Midwifery students

1. The History of
Occupational
Health
Nursing
By final year midwifery students

2. Objectives
▪ Introduction to occupational health nursing
▪ Describe the history of occupational health nursing from ancient
times to current
▪ History of occupational health nursing in Malawi
▪ Composition of Health and Welfare Act

3. Introduction of Occupational Health Nursing
▪ World health Organization (2019) defines occupational health as an
area of work in public health to promote and maintain highest degree
of physical, mental and social well-being of workers in all occupations.
▪ American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN), defines
Occupational Health Nursing as a field within the nursing discipline
that provides for and delivers health and safety programs and services
to workers, worker populations, and community groups.
▪ The practice focuses on promotion and restoration of health,
prevention of illness and injury, and protection from work-related and
environmental hazards.

4. Ancient times
▪ It all started long time ago when in earlier days occupational health
was known as Industrial Health.
▪ Mining the oldest industry known to man has been known as
hazardous occupation.
▪ Awareness of occupational health first sprouted in the ancient world.
▪ Hippocrates (c. 460 – c. 370 BC), an ancient Greek physician and ‘father
of medicine’, observed lead poisoning in miners.
▪ However, it wasn’t until recent centuries that lead as an occupational
health factor became a well-known public issue.
▪ Pliny the Elder (c. 23 – c. 79 AD) was the first to recommend that
miners use respiratory protection.

5. The 1700s
▪ The forerunner of occupational health nurses were the women
designated as Christian deaconesses who visited and cared for the
poor and sick.
▪ St. Vincent de Paul's Sisters of Charity were an outstanding example of
this.
▪ In 1700, Bernardino Ramazzini, an Italian physician, published ‘De
Morbis Artificum Diatriba’ (‘Diseases of Workers’) about occupational
diseases.
▪ It was the first systematic study of occupational disease. He strongly
urged doctors to question their patients about their professions when
diagnosing them and he noted that many workers were misdiagnosed
when this was not considered.

6. The 1700s
▪ He became known as the father of occupational medicine because
of his extensive interest, his observation, and his concern for the
worker’s health.
▪ He encouraged miners to cover their heads with cloths and sacks
and their noses and mouths, to decrease the inhalation of dust.

7. The British Industrial Revolution (1760 – 1840)
▪ The British Industrial Revolution (1760 – 1840) brought about a huge
rise in work-related accidents and illnesses, and the following key
events occurred:
▪ 1775 –The first occupational link to cancer was found (linked to high
exposure to soot).
▪ In 1802 the first Act entitled- Health and Morals of Apprentices was
introduced to limit the hours worked by children in cotton and woolen
factories.
▪ Conditions were laid down concerning the welfare of young workers.
▪ In 1819 another act was passed forbidding the employment of children
under the age of 9 years.

8. The British Industrial Revolution (1760 – 1840)
▪ 1831 –Charles Turner Thackrah, a pioneer in the field of occupational
health, wrote a book to reference The Trades and Manufacturers of
Leeds: and suggestions for the removal of many of the agents which
produce disease, and shorten the duration of life, showing how interest
and knowledge of occupational health were growing.
▪ 1833 onwards – Different industries were having inspectors appointed
for the first time in 1833; in 1843, the Mines Inspectorate was formed to
investigate and improve working conditions in the mining industry; and
in 1895, the Quarry Inspectorate was formed.
▪ At the time of the Industrial Revolution there were few attempts to
provide safety devices in factories or to consider toxic hazards.

9. The 1900s
▪ In 1919, the International Labor Organization was formed, which
advance social justice and promote decent work and decent
treatment of workers by setting international labor standards.
▪ In 1953, the British Occupational Hygiene Society was formed, which
distributes information, expertise and guidance in recognizing,
controlling and managing workplace health risks.
▪ In 1974, The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 was released,
which is the primary piece of legislation covering occupational health
and safety in Great Britain.

10. The 1900s
▪ Since then, large amounts of legislation have been put into place (with many
changed or updated), including
▪ In 1956, the Agriculture Safety, Health and Welfare Provisions Act.
▪ Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1980.
▪ Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981.
▪ Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazard Regulations 1984.
▪ Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985.
▪ Noise at Work Regulations 1989.
▪ Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.
▪ The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992.

11. The 2000s
▪ The 2000s have seen more research, reviews, and reports on
occupational health, and there has been an increased focus on
previously ignored aspects of health, such as mental health.
▪ A sedentary lifestyle brought on by many modern working practices
has recently been blamed for many issues.
▪ 45% of women and 37% of men spend less than 30 minutes a day up
on their feet at work, and experts have described such inactivity as
“one of the biggest” challenges in health (Mente, 2022).
▪ Heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancers and poor mental health have
all been linked to sedentary behavior.

12. In Malawi
▪ Occupational Safety, Health and Welfare Act, 1997 (No. 21 of 1997).
▪ Makes provision for the regulation of conditions of employment in
workplaces with regard to safety, health and welfare of employees;
for the inspection of certain plant and machinery; for the prevention
and regulation of accidents occurring to persons employed or
authorized to go into the workplace, and for some related matters.
▪ Part II deals with registration of workplaces
▪ Part III with duties and responsibilities of employers and employees
▪ Part IV with health and welfare
▪ Part V with machinery safety

13. In Malawi
▪ Part VI with health and safety,
▪ Part VII with notification and investigation of accidents, dangerous
occurrences and industrial diseases
▪ Part VIII with records,
▪ Part IX with administrative matters
▪ Part X with offences, penalties and legal proceedings
▪ In November 1997 it was agreed in Malawi that occupational
nursing and occupation medicine should be emphasized. It was
agreed that occupation nursing be taught at KCN and occupation
medicine at college of medicine starting from 1998.

14. HEALTH AND WELFARE ACT
▪ Cleanliness
▪ Overcrowding
▪ Ventilation and temperature
▪ Lighting
▪ Drainage of floor
▪ Sanitary conveniences
▪ Washing facilities
▪ Drinking water
▪ Change rooms
▪ Seats
▪ Facilities for meals
▪ First aid
▪ Medical examination

15. References
▪ AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH NURSES (AAOHN). (n.d.). What is Occupational and
Environmental Health Nursing.
https://www.aaohn.org/About/What-is-Occupational-and-Environmental-Health-Nursing
▪ Kmartin. (2016, September 25). Unit 3: Community Mobilization - Emergency Communication Preparedness
Implementation Kit. Emergency Communication Preparedness Implementation Kit - Social and Behavior Change
Communication for Emergency Preparedness Implementation Kit.
https://sbccimplementationkits.org/sbcc-in-emergencies/lessons/unit-3-community-mobilization/
▪ Malawi - Occupational Safety, Health and Welfare Act, 1997 (No. 21 of 1997). (n.d.).
https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/natlex4.detail?p_lang=en&p_isn=57356#:~:text=Makes%20provision%20for%20th
e%20regulation,the%20workplace%2C%20and%20for%20some
▪ Mente. (2022, August 1). History of occupational health - Mente Health. Mente Health.
https://mentehealth.com/2019/08/23/history-of-occupational-health/
▪ What is Occupational Health Nursing? (2021, June 15). Best Master of Science in Nursing Degrees | Find a Master
of Science in Nursing Program.
https://www.bestmasterofscienceinnursing.com/faq/what-is-occupational-health-nursing-2/
▪ World Health Organization: WHO. (2019). Occupational health. www.who.int.

16. Thank you
Any
comments
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