Focus
Looking back and learning for the future: History of Occupational Health and Safety website launched
May 2014
Have you ever wondered how the UK became one of the safest places in the world to go to work?
If so, this UK History of Occupational Safety and Health website www.historyofosh.org.uk which is put together by various members of the UK Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) National Occupational Safety and Health Committee (NOSHC), is the place for you.
The new website was launched on 28 April 2014 to coincide with the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, which is also Workers’ Memorial Day.
In 2011, the NOSHC decided to take forward the History of Occupational Safety and Health project in order to create a suitable “map” of occupational safety and health information sources and materials from an historical point of view, with as many links to original texts as possible.
An invaluable resource for students, lecturers, trainers, health and safety professionals and others with a general interest in industrial history, the site sets out developments from the 1802 Factory Act all the way through to the most recent regulatory changes made by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
It provides a wealth of information for those wishing to track the development of occupational safety and health, be they teaching or studying for professional or academic qualifications or carrying out other research, showing how this area has been at the heart of the UK’s industrial history.
Numerous pieces of legislation have been introduced over more than 200 years, covering a wide array of different industries, but their shared aim has been to ensure that workers can go home to their families safe and healthy at the end of each day.
It is important to value the history of occupational safety and health, not just to honour its pioneers but to develop a sense of perspective about what needs to be done to continue to tackle preventable harms associated with work, not just in UK but around the world.
The website sets out developments in workplaces in the UK from the 1802 Factory Act to recent regulation changes is an initiative of the UK Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents National Occupational Health and Safety Committee.
The website which provides a wealth of information tracking the development of occupational safety and health and includes:
- a Timeline sets out developments from the 1802 Factory Act to recent regulation changes
- a brief history of health and safety law, written by David Eves CB, the UK Health and Safety Executive’s former Deputy Director General and Chief Inspector
- details of Government Reviews, Legislation, Standards, Inspectorates and Notable People/Organisations
- lectures
- an extensive reading list
- training
- related museums
Full text documents, including some that are more than 180 years old, can be accessed via the website.
More information will continually be added to further expand the information already available.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to the website and thanks especially to Sheila Pantry OBE who has led the ‘History of OSH’ project and produced this very valuable resource.
Anyone wishing to send information to be added to the website please contact Sheila Pantry Email: sp@sheilapantry.com
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