Workers’ participation and control in Italy: The case of occupational medicine

The gradualist approach won over the revolutionary one and became the dominant force in establishing the natureof social legislation in Italy. Dr. A. Devoto, the first chairman of the occupational health clinic of Milan, reflected that view when he indicated that it was necessary to create a social pact between government, employers, and workers so that occupational health services could be created. He stressed that it would be to the benefit of all society that workers be protected at the workplace. Under fascism, the nature of occupational medicine changed, so that instead of providing services as such, it became an insurance system whereby workers affected by occupational injury and disease were supposed to be compensated. The nationwide strikes and takeovers by factory workers in 1969 had a most substantial impact on all areas of Italian life, including occupational medicine.