SAFETY MOVEMENT HISTORY
Vedkal Yajurved, Rugved, Upnishads etc. Old concept of science and safety in nation. Our ancient heritage.
BC 3500 Medhatithi of Bharat discovered decimal system.
BC 3000 The Ebers Papyrys and the Edwin Smith Papyrus, the first written document on health and safety.
BC 2000 Chanakya Kautilya's Arthshastra dealing many subjects including safety. See Part-5.1 of Chapter-1.
BC 2000 Babylonian code of Hammurabi of some 280 paragraphs covering bodily injuries and workers' compensation laws.
BC 1500 Ramses III hired Physicians to care for mine and quarry workers.
BC 1000 Acharya Dhanvantari invented 'Pharmacy' and Sushrut 'surgery'. Bhrugu shilp Sahitya on many branches of Engineering.
BC 800 Bodhayan's Shalvasutra - Principle of right angle.
BC 680 Invention of 'atom' by Kanad muni.
BC 427-347 Pleto's teaching of mathematics and globe shapes of all planets.
BC 400 Hippocrates, known as the father of medicine described tetanus.
BC 384-322 Philosophy of science by Aristotle.
BC 320 Indian sword gifted to Alexander.
BC 287-212 Displacement of water, buoyancy and specific gravity by Archimedes.
BC 200 The effects of lead poisoning were described by the Greek poet and physician Nicander.
BC 100 to 2nd Various Roman writers described the plague of Athens, the ill effects of their
Century environment on mine workers and unhealthful effects of lead for water piping and wine containers.
100-178 Ptolemy who told that the Sun moves around the earth. His book, 'The Great Treatise of Astronomy'. He gave mathematical models.
650 Aryabhatttoid thatSun'shines themoon and earth rotates. This results in day and night;
Fifth Century Aryabhatt's contribution in Mathematics. His discovery of D (22/7), sine, cosine etc.
Eight Century Nagarjun's book 'Ras ratnakar' on Chemistry.
700-800 In Lombardy, King Rothari codified the laws in 388 chapters on principles of compensation for injury. Bhaskaracharya's 'Lilavati Ganit' i.e. Algebra and Law of Gravitation.
1456 First printing press in Germany by Gutenberg.
1473-1543 Nicolas Copernicus told that the Sun is the centre and the Earth and other planets move around it. This was told by Aryabhatta many years ago in 650. .
1473 Ulrich Ellen bag, an Austrian physician warned about hazards of metal burning.
1561 George Agricola's book described air venting in mines and use of gloves, leggings and masks.
1564-1642 Galileo who discovered equal speed of falling bodies, telescope and reaffirmed Copernicus' Sun-centered principle.
1567 Paracelsus published On the 'Miners' Sickness and other Miners' Diseases, distinguishing acute and chronic poisoning.
1571-1630 Kepler who stated the elliptical motion of planets around the Sun.
1642-1727 Issac Newton. Principles of gravity, rules of light, optics, calculus etc.
1701-1800 Industrialisation (Mills) started in Britain and spread to the Continent and USA.
1732 revolution. First spinning machine by Richard Arcright. Pioneer of industrial
1749-1838 John Stevance, Father of American Railways.
1761-1828 Nicolas Lui Rober, pioneer of paper industry.
1764 Discovery- of spinning jenny.
1765 Steam engine by James Watt.
1765-1825 Aley Whitney produced sewing, washing and other machines.
1768-1835 Sernual Sletor, Father of American cloth industry.
1771-1852 David Wilkinson, Father of machine tools industries.
1784 Discovery of powerlooms.
1792 Discovery of cotton gins.
1796 Dr. Edward Janner, Small Pox vaccination.
1800-1860 Charls Goodyear, Father of rubber industry.
1801-1874 Gail Borden, Father of modern dairy technology.
1804 President Thomas Jefferson delivered his safety message to Captain Merriwether Lewis.
1806-1873 John Stuart Mill, the great contributor in philosophy of science.
1807 Steam ship by Robert Fulton.
1809-1884 Sirus Hall McCormick, Father of agriculture industry.
1813-1818 Sir Henri Bessimer, Father of steel industry.
1814 Locomotive engine by James Watt.
1819-1880 Edwin L. Derek, Father of Petroleum industry.
1825 Railway usage began.
1830-1850 First attempt to legislate the working hours of women and children in Great Britain.
1831-1879 James Clerk Maxwell, Electromagnetic waves which led us to Radio and TV.
1832-1891 Nicholas August Auto discovered internal combustion engine. Father of automobile industry. Great contribution to industrial revolution.
1833 England, Govt. Factory Inspectorate established.
George Stephenson suggested use of a steam whistle on locomotives.
1834 England, law enacted to provide fencing for mill gears and shafts. Lord Ashley's Great Factory Act.
1844-1929 Karl Benz made first motor car and called Father of motor car industry.
1845-1923 Wilhelm Rontgen, discovery of X-ray. First Nobel Prize winner in 1901.
1847-1922 Alexander Greham Bell discovered Telephone. Called Father of telecommunication.
1847-1931 Thomas Alva Edison, Father of electrical industry.
1847-1937 Gugli Eimo Marconi discovered wireless telegraph and called father of wireless telegraphy.
1855 Insurance Protection against boiler explosions was afforded in England.
1858-1913 Rudolf Diesel discovered diesel fuel and called father of diesel industry.
1858-1932 Dr Jagdish Chandra Bose. Sensation of plant. Cresco graph to view enlargement of plant movement.
1863-1914 Charles Martin Hall obtained pure aluminum and called father of aluminum industry.
1864 First accident insurance policy in North America.
1865 Benzene ring structure.
1866 National Board of Fire under-writers.
1867 Massachusetts had begun to use factory inspectors.
Boiler and machinery insurance, started in USA.
1869 Germany-Acts passed providing that all employers furnish necessary appliances to safeguard health and life of employees. Massachusetts (USA) established, the first state bureau of labour statistics in order to determine the kinds and causes of accidents.
Periodic Table of elements by Mendelif.
1870 Westing house airbrake adopted by the railroads.
1872 First electric automatic signal installed on the Pennsylvania rail board.
1873-1961 Lee De' Forest discovered radio and called father of radio industry.
1874 France, Law enacted providing for special inspection service of workshops.
1876-1920 Willis Havilland Carrier discovered airconditioning and called father of airconditioning industry.
1877 Massachusetts. Law passed compelling guarding of dangerous moving machinery.
1879-1955 Albert Einstein. Quantum theory and principles of relativity.
1879 Electric bulb by Thomas Alva Edison.
1880 American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
1881 American National Red Cross.
First Indian Factories Act.
1885 Germany Alabama, passed employers' liability law.
Germany, Bismarck prepared and enacted the first Compulsory Compensation Act for workers. This Act covered only sickness.
1887 Massachusetts passed an employers' liability law.
Ervin Schrodinger - wave mechanics.
1890 First international conference in Berlin of 15 European States to draw up international conventions on labour regulations.
Establishment of International Association for the Legal Protection of Workers, the forerunner of the ILO which was established in 1919.
1892 Safety Department of the Joliet Works of the Illinois Steel Company formed. This has been called "The birthplace of the American industrial accident prevention movement". The first safety order was the inspection of all engine flywheels.
1893 Federal Safety Appliance Act required use of standard safety equipment on railroad.
1896 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), USA.
Radioactive elements by Cury couple.
1900 US Census of 1900 showed 1750178 working children between 10 to 15 years. Quantum theory by Mex Planck. First safety periodical 'Safety Maintenance' published by Alfred M. Best company.
1901 National Bureau of Standards.
1903 First steel passenger car constructed. Demands of industrial workers were considered in Russia.
1905 Extension of Quantum theory by Einsteine.
1907 Quarterly of the National Fire Protection Association published by NFPA.
1908 Transportation of Dangerous Explosives Act passed.
1909 Aeroplane by Orvil and Vilbar Right brothers.
First National Conference on Industrial Diseases held.
1910 The oldest large Occupational Health Institute "The Clinica del Lavoro" in Milan.
1911 New Jersey First State Workmen's compensation law passed.
California passed the first American law for the compulsory reporting of occupational diseases.
American Museum of Safety.
Ernest Rutherford - Concept of Nucleus and electron in atom; alpha, beta and gamma rays and many inventions on atomic energy.
1912 Discovery of Thorium, Polonium and Radium by Madam Curry.
1913 Bureau of Labour Statistics.
'Safety' published by the American Museum of Safety.
Atomic structure, Nuclear structure and Atomic Model by Nisbohr.
National Safety Council was founded in USA.
1914 The first World-War started accelerating industrialization and need of safety.
The first safety of life at sea convention held in London.
1915 American Society of Safety.
Elliptical motion of electrons by Summerfield.
1918 Air Mail Service started.
1919 National Railroad Accident Prevention Drive inaugurated.
National Safety News published by the National Safety Council. Then many other publications-started in the subsequent years by NSC (USA).
International Labour Organi-sation (ILO) was established at Geneva, Switzerland. Hours of Work (Industry), ILO Con.l, Unemployment Con.2, Recom 1, Maternity Protection Con.S, Night Work (Women) Con:4, Minimum Age (Industry) Con.5, Night Work of Young Persons (Industry) Con.6, Anthrax prevention Recom 3, Lead ' Poisoning Recom 4, .Labour Inspection Recom 5, White Phosphorous Recom 6
1921 ILO at Geneva set up a safety service. White Lead, ILO Con. 13, Weekly Rest (Industry) Con. 14.
1922 Greenburg and Smith introduced the impinger, a dust sampling device, which resulted in the impinger method becoming the standard for the US Bureau of Mines and the Public Health Service.
1923 Labour Inspection ILO Recom 20
1925 Workmen's Compensation ILO Con. 17 to 19 and Recom 22 to 25.
1926 Bensol, Poisoning study.
4:1 accident cost ratio presented by H.W. Heinrich.
First rocket fly.
1927 A study of the relation between safety and production was made by the American Engineering Council in 1926 and 1927.
1928 First National Aromatic Safety Conference held in America.
American Standards Association.
Functioning of International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP).
1929 The US Load Line Act passed to prevent overloading of cargo under various conditions.
The foundation of a major injury ratio 30029-1 indicated by H.W. Heinrich. Peniciline by Alexander Flemming.
Prevention of Industrial Accidents ILO Recom 31
Power driven machinery, ILO Recom 32
1930 First Greater New York Safety Conference held in New York city. It was a one day session with 900 attendence.
1930-1934 The ILO published its first Encyclopedia "Occupation and Health", the value of which was widely recognized.
1934 Bureau of Labour Standards.
Workmen's Compensation revised, ILO
1908 The Air Hygiene Foundation was created to conduct scientific studies to prevent occupational diseases and industrial health. 40 Hours Week, ILO Con. 47.
1936 Holidays with Pay, ILO Con. 52, Recom 47.
1937 Automotive Safety Foundation.
National Committee on Films for Safety. Safety Provisions (Building), ILO Con.62, Recom 53 to 56.
1938 Centre for Safety Education.
Nuclear Fission of Uranium by Farmy and Han.
1939 American Industrial Hygiene Association. Labour Inspectorates, ILO Recom 59.
1940-150 Inclusion of Modern Defense Equipment viz.. Radar, jet aircraft, missiles, atom bomb, computer etc.
1941 Industrial Hygiene Departments set up in 33 States (USA).
The Accident Cause Code was completed by USA. This code introduced an era of accident cause standardization in USA overcoming a weakness in industrial accident prevention that had long existed. National Bureau for Industrial Protection (USA).
1944 Medical Care, ILO Recom 69.
1945 Solid State Transistor by Bell Telephone Laboratories of America. Ultimately this solid state electronics has now come upto the stage of microelectronics using silicon chips and integrated circuits.
America threw atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki of Japan causing @ 1,20,000 deaths and more injuries in Aug 1945.
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in atomic energy at Bombay.
DGFASLT. i.e. Directorate General. Factory Advice Service and Labour Institute was set up at Delhi. It was shifted toBomba) (the CLI building) in 1966.
Foundation of International Air Transport Association (IATA) in Switzerland.
1946 Medical Examination of young person? (Industry & Non-industry), ILO Con.77-79 and Recom 79.
The oldest Occupational Health Service ii France. Then in Japan in 1947.
1947 Establishment, of International Organisation for Standardi-sation (ISO) by ILO on 24-2-1947. ISO, work is carried out through some 2000 technical bodies and 100000 experts from all over the world More than 4000 International Standard have been published in some 30000 pages Labour Inspection, ILO Con. 81,85, Recom 81, 82.
ILO conference adopted the first International Standards Concerning the organisation of labour inspection. Atomic Energy Commission (USA).
1948 Declaration of Industrial Policy for small scale industries and public sectors on 6-41948.
Atomic Energy Commission.
1949 The first national Ergonomics Research Society in UK.
The ILO published a model code of Safety Regulations for Industrial Establishments for the guidance of Governments and Industry.
1950-60 Establishment of Indian Institutes of Technology at Kharagpur, Bombay, Madras, Delhi and Kanpur, Defense organization. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and Department of Technology in our country.
1952 Pesticides manufacturing started in India. Social Security (Minimum Standards) ILO Con.102
1953 Protection of workers health, ILO Recom 97 (It includes technical as well as medical measures and compulsory notification of occupational diseases).
1954 Atomic battery (giving crores of electrons per second on transistor wafer) by USA. Atomic Energy Centre was established at Trombay in Bombay. This was renamed as Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in 1967.
1955 Dr. Bhabha was selected as President of the conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy at Geneva.
1956 Our first nuclear reactor 'Apsara', the first in Asia also.
Welfare facilities, ILO Recom 102
1957 Sputnic the first satellite in the sk/ by Russia.
Formation of International Committee for Lifts Regulations (CIRA) in Switzerland. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) came into existence on 29-7-1957 by the statute of United Nations.
1958 Defense Research and Development Organisation. Approval of National Policy on Scientific Research and Development by the Parliament on 4-3-58.
1959 Occupational Health Service, ILO Recom 112.
Birth of International Ergonomics Association (IEA) on 6-4-1959 in Oxford. International Occupational Safety and Health Information Centre (CIS) was set up by the ILO Office in May 1959 to collect, disseminate, co-ordinate and distribute world-wide information on occupational safety and health. The service was computerised since 1974. Direct access to CIS data via display terminals and variety of publications are available.
1960 The Regional Labou" Institute (RLI), Madras was set up.
Radiation Protection, ILO Con.llS, Recom 114.
1961 The Central Labour Institute (CLI) started in a rented building in 1961 and shifted to its Sion-Bombay premises in 1966.
1962 The Regional Labour Institute (RLI), Kanpur was set up.
1963 Guarding of Machinery, ILO Con.ll9, Recom 118.
1964 Hygiene (Commerce & Offices) ILO Con.l20, Recom 120. Employment Injury Benefit ILO Con. 121 Recom 121.
1965 The Regional Labour Institute (RLI), Calcutta was set up. Formation of International Agency for Research on Cancer by WHO.
Medical examination of young persons (underground work) ILO Con. 124.
1966 The National Safety Council (NSC) was established on 4th March 1966, at CLI Building, Sion, Bombay-22. In this remembrance, 4th March is celebrated as the National Safety Day in our country.
Electronics Committee at the Chairmanship of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai.
First tidal electric plant in France giving 5000 Kwh electricity per year.
Foundation of the International Radiation 1978 Protection Asso-ciation (IRPA) in France.
1967 Maximum Weight, ILO Con.l27, Recom 128.
1968 Two conventions on Road Traffic and Road Signs and Signals in Vienna.
Agreement on the International Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) came into force on 29-1-1968 at Geneva.
1969 Atomic Power Station at Tarapur in Maharashtra.
Apollo - II landed on the moon with three scientists, on 21-7-69..
DAE-NASA Satellite - I TV experiment. Report of the National Commission of Labour, India, 1969.
Medical care and Sickness benefits, ILO Con. 130, Recom 134.
A meeting of editors and users of occupational safety and health periodicals from 21 countries at Geneva on 7-8 July 1969.
1970 Establishment of International Nuclear Information System (INIS) by the IAEA started in 1957.
1971 Electronics Commission under the President ship of Dr. Menon.
The Division of Nuclear Safety and Environment Protection started as a division of IAEA.
Starting of programme of evaluation of chemical carcinogenic risk to humans. Starting of Science and Technology Department by the Central Government. Benzene, ILO Con.l36, Recom 144.
1972 Foundation of International Association of Labour Inspection (IALI) in Switzerland.
1974 Atomic explosion (experiment) in the desert of Rajasthan.
Occupational Cancer, ILO Con.139, Recom 147.
1975 Combination of two space shuttles Apollo (USA) and Soyuz (USSR) in the sky.
1976 Landing of Viking-1 & 2 (USA) on the Mars. Launching of PIACT (International Programme for the Improvement of working conditions and environments). Legislation - The Toxic Substances Control Act 1976 (TSCA) in USA.
International Occupational Safety and Health Hazard Alert System was adopted by the International Labour conference.
1977 Gujarat Safety Council was registered on 52-1977 at Vadodara.
Working Environment (Air pollution, Noise and Vibration) ILO , Con.148, Recom 156.
1978 International conference on primary health care sponsored by WHO & UNICEF on 129-78.
Labour Administration, ILO Con.150, Recom 158.
Identification of 4039907 chemical compounds by the American Chemical Society's Chemical Abstract Service (CAS).
1979 Occupational Safety & Health, Dock Work, ILO Con.l52, Recom 160, Hours of Work & Rest Periods (Road Transport) ILO Con.l53, Recom 161.
Publication of Initial Chemical substances inventory listing 44000 chemicals, by USA.
1980 The International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) became operational in June 1980, at WHO Head quarters. It is a cooperative venture by UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), ILO and WHO.
1981 Occupational Safety & Health, ILO, Con.l55, Recom 164.
1982 Maintenance of Social Security Rights, ILO Con.l57. Recom 167.
1985 Labour statistics, ILO, Con.l60. Recom 170. 1996 Occupational Health Services, ILO Con. 161, Recom 171, World Environment (1985), a brochure published by Loksabha, warned about environmental problems. 'Tlie State of India's Environment 1984-85, i.e. the Second Citizen's Report' also threw light on tremendous loss of environment and 1997 human health in our country (see Chap-1).
1986 Asbestos, ILO Con.l62, Recom 172. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
1987 Vital amendments in the Factories Act, 1948 owing to Bhopal disaster.
1988 Safety and Health in Construction, ILO Con.l67, Recom 175.
1990 The Chemicals, ILO Con.l70, Recom 177. Night Work, ILO Con. 171, Recom 178.
1993 Prevention of Major Industrial Accident, ILO Con.l74, Recom 181.
1995 Safety & Health in Mines, ILO Con.l76 Recom 183. Vital amendments in the Gujarat Factories Rules, 1963, in consequence to the 1987 amendment in the Factories Act.
1996 'Down to Earth' report of 15-10-96, warned about environmental losses, air and water pollution and danger to human health (see Chap-1).
'Greenpeace international' report of 10-12-96 threw light on unsafe conditions of our industries and dangers due to chemicals. 3
1997 Landing of arobotic spacecraft. Pathfinder on 4-7-1997, on the red planet Mars by the NASA, USA.
Launching of a Satellite IRS-ID by ISRO on 29-9-1997.
1998 IS:14489 - Code of Practice on Occupational Safety and Health Audit.
1999 Launching of a Commercial Telecom Satellite INSET-2E by ISRO on 3-4-1999.
2001 Safety and Health in Agriculture Con. 184, Recom 192.
2002 List of Occupational Diseases, Recom 194.
2004 HRD Recom 195.
2006 IS : 15656 Hazard Identification and Risk Analysis.