This paper traces the history of prevention in the workplace as seen throug
h the Annals of National Occupational Health Conferences in Italy. At the b
eginning of this century conferences were concerned with the illnesses men
contract in certain types of work. Later conferences indicated the need for
medical examination to prevent occupational illness, underlined the social
relevance of this new branch of medicine and shifted the emphasis from cur
e to prevention.
In the late 1920s and in the 1930s, cultural, technical, scientific, politi
cal and social events led to a realisation of the importance of the scienti
fic organisation of labour, the introduction of general regulations on indu
strial hygiene and the first list of illnesses to be covered by insurance.
In subsequent years, the factory physician and factory health services play
ed a Very important role in occupational prevention.
Since the mid-1950s, prevention has been based on Italian legislation and I
LO recommendations. In recent years, new laws have extended the principles
of occupational medicine to all industrial sectors.