A historical perspective on health and safety laws

This section covers very briefly some of the salient stages in the development of health and safety legislation in the UK. 

1556 Part of a book on metal mining by Dr Agricola dealt with 

1690 Boson v. Sandford - first judgement that established the doc- 

1784 Fever epidemic in Lancashire claimed many lives, particularly 

1832 Leeds doctor Charles Turner Thackrah published first English book on occupational diseases 

Treatise on diseases in mining and smelting by Dr Paracelsus Boson V. Sandford - first judgement that established the doctrine of vicarious Habihty of the employer, i.e. the employer being responsible for what his employees do while at work Book on trade diseases published by ItaUan physician Bernadino Ramazzini 

Manchester Board of Health set up Combination Acts outlawing trade unions Act for the preservation of the health and morals of apprentices and others in cotton mills (the first health and safety Act) Further Act, prohibiting in mills the employment of children under nine years of age, reducing the hours of work for 9-16 year olds to twelve per day and prohibiting night work for under 16s Repeal of the Combination Acts 

---