This book is the first in-depth study of occupational health in nineteenth and early-twentieth century Britain. As such it is an important contribution to the burgeoning literature on the history of health in the workplace. It focuses on the first four diseases to receive bureaucratic and legislative recognition: lead, arsenic and phosphorus poisoning and anthrax. As such it traces the emergence of medical knowledge and growth in public concern about the impact of these diseases in several major industries including pottery manufacture, matchmaking, wool-sorting and the multifarious trades in which arsenic was used as a raw material. It considers the process of state intervention taking due account of the influence of government inspectors, ‘moral entrepreneurs’ and various interest groups.

UK. Report of a committee inquiring into and commenting on the adequacy of labour legislation relating to occupational safety and occupational health - covers labour inspection, sanctions, safety, radiation protection, precautions against fire, noise and poisonous substances, administrative aspects of occupational medicine, safety training, research, employment accident benefits, etc., and stresses the need for more management initiatives and more involvement of workpeople themselves. Bibliography pp. 216 to 218 and statistical tables.