Miners, silica and disability: The bi-national interplay between South Africa and the United Kingdom, c1900-1930s.
Am J Ind Med
; 58 Suppl 1: S23-30, 2015 Nov.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26509751
ABSTRACT
This paper investigates silicosis as a disabling disease in underground mining in the United Kingdom (UK) before Second World War, exploring the important connections between South Africa and the UK and examining some of the issues raised at the 1930 International Labour Office Conference on silicosis in Johannesburg in a British context. The evidence suggests there were significant paradoxes and much contestation in medical knowledge creation, advocacy, and policy-making relating to this occupational disease. It is argued here that whilst there was an international exchange of scientific knowledge on silicosis in the early decades of the twentieth century, it was insufficient to challenge the traditional defense adopted by the British government of proven beyond all scientific doubt before effective intervention in coal mining. This circumspect approach reflected dominant business interests and despite relatively robust trade union campaigning and eventual reform, the outcome was an accumulative legacy of respiratory disease and disability that blighted coalfield communities.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Política Pública
/
Silicosis
/
Minas de Carbón
/
Indemnización para Trabajadores
/
Dióxido de Silicio
/
Sindicatos
Límite:
Humans
País/Región como asunto:
Africa
/
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Am J Ind Med
Año:
2015
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Reino Unido