title: [History of the health protection of construction workers].
abstract: Construction has been one of the first sectors in which an organized system of occupational health protection has been implemented, as shown by the Egyptian physicians caring for workers and artisans in building sites. During the Middle Ages, first examples of accident prevention legislation in this field may be found among the Lombards. In the same period, craft organizations led to greater social recognition of skilled workers, without a improvement in their health conditions. Ramazzini accurately described some risks of stonemasons and brick-makers (chemical and microclimatic hazards). In the following centuries, the Industrial Revolution led to a population growth in metropolitan areas and increased employment as well as accidents in the construction sector, as demonstrated by some ex-voto paintings in churches. This phenomenon became more evident in postwar recovery, forcing Italy to adopt modern accident prevention rules. Nowadays Italian legislation, complying with EU directive, provides new challenges for occupational physician.
authors: Centro di Studio e Ricerca sulla Sanità Pubblica (CeSP), Università degli Studi di Milano Bicocca, via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza. michele.riva@unimib.it
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Riva
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Cesana
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Mosconi
mesh_terms: D060389:Construction Industry; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000266:history*