Before that, second-hand smoke contributed to a massive number of sick days even for non-smokers. Smoking was banned in most workplaces a mere 30 years ago. Either way, the upshot is that today’s workplace is a much safer and pleasant place to toil than even just thirty years ago. It can also be argued that the workplace is safer today because the laws were instigated by outside sources. It can be argued that management in all sections of industry and commerce has become more humane.
But, as the highest courts have stated, ignorance of the law - even if it’s a law of nature or chemistry - is no excuse. Of course, employers a hundred years ago were not as cognizant of the dangers their work environment posed. These conditions led to the creation of workers’ compensation insurance, better known as workers comp.
Transportation workers, whether truck drivers or train conductors, were prone to the obvious hazards of speed and weather conditions. Risks include heavy machinery, noxious gases, toxic chemicals, or grease-covered floors. Factories, of course, were notorious for injuries, not to say fatalities. In the past office, workers were often compelled to work in stifling heat or freezing conditions. The American worker has always faced certain hazards, whether in the workplace, office settings, or on the road. A Brief History of Work-Related Disabilities Just about everyone works on a keyboard for long periods of time in today’s business environment.