AOCOPM 2023 Midyear Educational Conference-259668

259668 - Article 21

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The "AOCOPM 2023 Midyear Educational Conference" presentation by Dr. Allen J. Parmet focuses on the evolution of occupational and preventive medicine during and prior to World War I. It begins by tracing the origins of occupational health with early works by Paracelsus and Ramazzini, emphasizing the significant industrial advancements in the 19th century involving explosives, metals, dyes, and electricity. Before World War I, the U.S. was a dominant steel and oil producer, with industries that leaned heavily on railroads and shipping, but lacking in chemical technology.<br /><br />The conference highlights how World War I was a pivot for industrial warfare requiring substantial logistics and innovations in manufacturing, particularly in explosives. There was a shortage of critical materials like benzene and nitrates, which was somewhat resolved through innovations by figures like Fritz Haber.<br /><br />Occupational hazards during this period included severe conditions for factory workers, particularly women, labeled "Munitionnettes," who faced health risks from exposure to chemicals like TNT and nitrates, leading to conditions like jaundice, anemia, and death. Significant incidents like the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in 1911 underscored a dire need for workplace safety, resulting in some legislative actions but minimal initial progress in occupational health.<br /><br />Influential figures such as Alice Hamilton and George Minot played key roles in investigating occupational illnesses and advocating for worker safety reforms. Their research led to the foundation of organizations like the American Occupational Medical Association in 1916.<br /><br />The presentation stresses the lasting impact of these developments on current occupational health and safety practices, indicating how World War I inadvertently spurred advancements in this field. The conference session ends by drawing attention to the ongoing logistical challenges of dealing with unexploded ordnance and industrial legacies from the war.

Keywords

occupational medicine

preventive medicine

World War I

industrial advancements

Paracelsus

Ramazzini

Munitionnettes

Alice Hamilton

worker safety

American Occupational Medical Association