Despite considerable improvements in the knowledge and prevention of occupational diseases in industrialised countries, the global burden of work-related disorders remains high, especially in developing countries and in countries with large populations undergoing rapid industrialisation. Consequently, occupational medicine deserves a high profile in the teaching of medical sciences. It will also have a societal role in the future, to help anticipate and identify new and unforeseen health consequences arising from innovative technologies and changes in work patterns.
In this context, there is a major need for a comprehensive reference textbook on occupational diseases.
Donald Hunter (1898–1978) was a pioneer of and a major contributor to …