The concept of health in Italian occupational health legislation
Salerno, S.; Marchetti, E.; Figà-Talamanca, I.
Epidemiologia e Prevenzione 27(4): 244-246
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 1120-9763 PMID: 14651031 Document Number: 553973
This study describes the evolution of the concept of health in Italian occupational health legislation (1900-2001). Mental health dimensions at work (such as reduction in monotony and repetitiveness, mental risks in pregnancy and so on) were introduced only recently. This can be explained with: 1) poor working conditions; 2) the delay of the occupational health community in including mental health in the concept of health; 3) the gap between scientific knowledge of risk factors for mental health and legislation aimed at prevention.