During the 1930s and 1940s, the Insurance Brokers' Association of Illinois, Inc. published The Insurance Broker.
In November 1936, The Insurance Broker featured an article entitled, "What Price Occupational Diseases? Fear and Hysteria vs. Intelligence" authored by C. O. Sappington, a consulting industrial hygienist from Chicago, Illinois. The following are some excerpts:
"In this article it is proposed that we consider briefly some of the current comments taken at random and representing ideas of various types of people and groups; a consideration of what the real trend is; and last, but by no means least, a discussion of the remedy."
"Fear and hysteria regarding Silicosis must be and gradually are being displaced by intelligent efforts directed toward conquering the disease. The problems presented are no more difficult or involved than many other industrial problems."
"Current Comments. - Silicosis is a true occupational disease; this is a point upon which all authorities agree."
"One should not lose sight of the fact that silicosis is not the only occupational disease which may cause disability or which occurs characteristically as the result of specific industrial environmental influences."
"Facts and Trends - Silicosis is an occupational disease of the lungs, contracted by the continuous breathing of fine particles of free silica dust over a considerable period of years. In simple or uncomplicated silicosis, it is now believed that the employee may continue as a useful individual for many years before complete disability occurs, or a grade of disability which prevents continuance of employment. It is important to keep the employee free from infection, particularly tuberculosis, which is a complicating factor and which actually produces disability interfering with working programs.
"The cause of silicosis is the inhalation of finely divided silica dust against which the employee is not properly protected. The effect is the disease which has been described in simple terms above with the resulting disability when complicated by infection.
"The socio-economic implications of silicosis and the other occupational diseases present many difficult problems. In this problem the wise employer has no intention of evading compensation for actual and typical occupational disease, but should not be compelled to pay for non-occupational diseases which have no definite relationship to employment. The employee, on the other hand, should realize the necessity for intelligent cooperation with the employer in the prevention of occupational disease, particularly with regard to the proper use of protective equipment, manufacturing processes, and the handling of materials. The employee has every right to expect that he can labor in the process of making his living without undue industrial hazard, but he may not and should not expect to draw compensation for disability resulting from diseases of non-industrial pursuits.
"The prevention of occupational diseases is the keynote of the entire situation. Needless expense has been incurred by manufacturers and employers from time to time, exceeding greatly in amount, for the payment of claims and lawsuits, the money which could have been used intelligently in the amelioration or elimination of hazards producing occupational disease. The time is past when the employer can adopt an attitude of 'hiding his head in the sand like an ostrich and claiming that no one can see no one.'"
The third page of the article includes a half page ad for the Continental Casualty Company, and the last page of the article includes a half page ad for the Indemnity Insurance Company of North America.
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