Variations in Occupational Mortality between and within the Social Classes

It is nearly a century since the Registrar-General first classified deaths according to the occupation registered on the death certificate and published statistics relating thereto in official publications generally known as Occupational Mortality Supple- ments. These publications appeared at decennial intervals and contained data for triennial periods centred on a census year. In this way he was able to obtain the number and age of those exposed to risk in each occupation, and by taking three years' deaths the resulting occupational death rates were made more dependable. In 1911 fresh ground was broken because in that year he also graded each occupation according to its social and economic significance, and the concept of mortality according to social class has become increasingly familiar to students of public health. The Registrar-General established five social classes, of which Class I consists of the professional and well-paid occupations, Class III comprises skilled workers, and Class V the unskilled labourers, while II and IV are intermediate groups where the occupations are not readily assignable to one of the other three. It is, however, necessary to bear in mind the alterations subsequently made in this classification, which affect comparisons

Environmental health · Occupational safety and health · Pathology · Social class · Medicine · Occupational Health and Safety Research · Workplace Health and Well-being · Gerontology

• La mortalité sociale

  Open Access•Leon Tabah•Population•1955

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