PART III
PREVENTIVE MEASURES AGAINST INDUSTRIAL POISONING
I
GENERAL MEASURES
In discussing preventive measures against industrial poisoning the deductive method from the general to the particular will be followed. The numerous instances of poisoning mentioned in Part I afford a practical basis on which to formulate general rules before passing on to describe special measures. Technical details will be omitted, as they must be left to the technical expert whose business it is to draw up the plans as a whole and to modify them according to the requirements of individual cases.
In the effort to control industrial poisoning and disease it is necessary to insist absolutely on the concerted action of all concerned. In this co-operation every one is called who through his knowledge and sphere of activity is in a position to assist.
The medical man comes in with his special knowledge of the action of poisons as toxicologist, as practising physician (especially as works surgeon and doctor of the sick insurance society), and also in an official capacity as appointed surgeon or medical officer of health; the technical expert comes in as engineer, as manager, as foreman, and as factory inspector. But above all the interest and active co-operation of employers and employed are needed as well as the organisations of both. That the workers should understand and co-operate is essential for the success of preventive measures, and subsequently it will be shown in what direction this co-operation is most necessary.
To make possible such co-operation interest must be aroused and suitable information and teaching supplied to the parties concerned. Medical men and practical workers require to receive instruction in industrial hygiene, and teaching on this subject should be arranged for in secondary and technical schools. Medical men and others who, as officials and insurance doctors, are brought constantly into touch with industrial workers should have opportunity—by means of special courses and lectures—to keep pace with advancing knowledge in this direction. Beside these there are, as educative organisations, special Institutes of Industrial Hygiene and special hospitals for treatment of diseases of occupation which bring together the patients and the teaching staff and so facilitate pursuit of knowledge and research. A beginning of this kind has already been made by the Industrial Hygiene Institute, Frankfurt a.-Main, and the hospital for diseases of occupation at Milan, showing that the ideas are attainable. International agencies which unite all circles interested in the subject irrespective of profession or nationality in common interchange of thought and discussion are of great significance for uniform development of needful preventive measures; international congresses, often in connection with exhibitions, have given valuable stimulus and have been the starting-point of permanent international societies, unions, and organisations. The significance for our inquiry of these international efforts will be more closely considered in the following pages.
II
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS ON SOCIAL AND LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
INTERNATIONAL PREVENTIVE MEASURES, NOTIFICATION OF INDUSTRIAL POISONING, LISTS AND SCHEDULES OF INDUSTRIAL POISONS
Experience and inquiry in the field of industrial poisoning led to a series of demands which, supported as they were by a general movement for the protection of workers, were soon followed by regulations and legislative action. For a long time efforts have been directed to treat industrial disease and poisoning in the same way as has been done in the case of industrial accidents. The question, however, is attended with much greater difficulty. On the other hand, uniform international regulation of questions affecting prevention of disease is called for both on humanitarian and economic grounds.