Work related injuries

Rules in matter of safety on building sites are a rather recent issue, although working accidents are a very old problem. In 1898 the Parliament voted Law n.80, which established the national welfare fund for invalidity and old age, that later became the basis of the Italian previdential system. In the first half of the 20th century rules and regulation on safety multiplied according to the specific needs of each sector.

Regulation in progress

In recent years, the evolution of rules has accelerated. This attitude has caused an obvious change in the structure of scaffold and in builders outfit.

Medieval corporations

The first forms of mutuality and assistance were the medieval trade guilds, citizens’ organizations that created mutual assistance orders among members of the same trade in case of accident: illness, injury, invalidity, old age and widowhood. Mutuality as we know it is a concept that dates back to the 19th century, with the creation of specifically dedicated organizations.

Saints and ex voto

Before the diffusion of corporations for the protection and assistance to workers in case of accident, the only way to prevent injuries was an apotropaic action such as the invocation of patron Saints and, in case of survival, the dedication of ex voto to the Saints and the Virgin Mary.