Early surveys of occupational health and safety hazards in the Netherlands (1890-1900)

Introduction
Industrialization came late in the Netherlands. It took the separation from Belgium and the loss of the industrial area in the French-speaking part of Belgium in (1830-9) to give it a final impulse. Nevertheless, joining late did not protect us from getting our fair share of unhealthy working conditions. They were put on the agenda by the generation of emancipatory doctors called the hygienists (1840-1890). And the end of their era a process of legislation started, leading to a final outcome during the years of the First World War. Legislation entailed the introduction of formal professional structures to deal with OHS questions. Those professionals were preceded by forerunners, often in broad coalitions. When legislation came into force, the forerunners either stopped their activities or in several situations clashed with the upcoming professionals

Methods
We studied the surveying activities of two private societies that intended to further OHS: the Society for the Prevention of Accidents in Workplaces and Factories and the Netherlands Congress for Public Health Care. We focused on the contribution to occupational health care and safety risks concepts and not on the formal history of both societies.

Results
Both societies played a major role in shaping the concept of occupational health and safety and at the same time contributed to the social acceptance of OHS, thus furthering the ongoing legislation. The Society for the Prevention (etc) ceased to exist when legislation (one of goals) was within reach. The Netherlands Congress (etc) amalgamated with the upcoming professionals and still exists today.

Discussion
We place the triangle relationship private initiative - legislation - professionalism in the broader context of comparable and more or less repeating OHS processes that occur in the 20th century in the Netherlands.