공장노동자와 보건위생― 일본대장성전매국(大藏省專賣局)을 중심으로 ―

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine the changes in the employment structure according to the business development of the monopoly factory, and then to clarify the health condition of the workers and the meaning of the occupational health measures of the state monopoly authorities in the preservation of the labor force. The state monopoly authorities introduced infectious disease prevention measures and factory systems for occupational health, and engaged in health examinations, vaccinia, and factory hygiene management along with daily treatment. Such an internal medical system was expanded by the number of medical personnel in response to the increase of factory worker and the application of the Factory Act, and later hospitals were established. For this reason, looking at the health condition of workers, there is a tendency for the mortality rate to rise from the late 1910s to the early 20s and then decline slightly. With the expansion of the internal medical system, mutual aid associations have become the economic foundation that supported the maintenance of the health of workers. In addition to acting as a labor insurance, it became a means of livelihood protection in the case of death from a public injury or illness, and this extended to the family. There is also a trend toward long-term improvement in morbidity. The labor union also recognized the importance of mutual aid associations and demanded institutional improvement. It goes without saying that the expansion of mutual aid associations and the resulting improvement in the occupational health system also contributed preemptively to the stabilization of workplaces. The State Tobacco Factory was centered on young female workers compared to the railroad and postal service centering on male labor, and this is reflected in the age and years of service of the labor force, along with the working environment. The occupational health system of the state monopoly authorities was relatively advanced at that time, and it should be evaluated that very good labor sanitation management was implemented. Among them, the bodies of the factory workers were managed by the state capital, contributing to productivity improvement and supporting the national finances.