Hamilton conducted extensive investigations of factories at both state and national levels, educating America about common substances, like lead, mercury, and trinitrotoluene (TNT), with hidden, devastating side effects. Since the workplace had never been scientifically studied like this, Hamilton broke barriers in the fields of occupational health and industrial toxicology.
Illinois Investigations
In 1910, Hamilton was appointed to the Occupational Disease Commission of Illinois, the first investigative public health commission in America. By leading investigations, Hamilton soon became a national expert on lead poisoning and found many previously unknown sources of danger in the workplace.
"Alice Hamilton 1988 NIOSH" (YouTube)
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"Governor Deneen [was] to appoint an Occupational Disease Commission, the first time a state had ever undertaken such a survey. Dr. Henderson had some influence in selecting the members and, as he knew of my great interest in the subject, he included me in the group of five physicians." Eventually, Hamilton's thorough investigative work led to Illinois enacting Occupational Disease and Workmen's Compensation acts in 1911, Illinois’ first workplace safety laws which mandated compensation for occupational diseases. Hamilton’s work as a state medical investigator was noticed by US Commissioner of Labor Charles Neill, who chose her to lead national surveys as a federal agent.
The US Department of Labor was also created in 1913, signifying the growing emphasis on workplace regulation during this period of rapid industrialization. |
National Investigations
Hamilton utilized the technique of 'shoe-leather epidemiology,' making personal visits to factories and collecting data directly from workers and management. She interacted very personally with employees, intensifying her sympathy and thus driving her to remedy the issues.
This method allowed her to explore numerous workplaces and exposed her to the different hazards and toxins workers faced. Hamilton lacked official authority to enter factory plants, but her persuasive and professional demeanor made most factory owners welcome her warmly. "Even more striking was the ignorance shown by owners or managers as to actual sickness among their men. ... [A] manager challenged the writer to find one case for which his factory was responsible and 21 were found through two years time. This manager promptly hired a physician as medical examiner, a measure he had up to that time considered quite superfluous." |
Her work exposed her to adventures at odds with nineteenth-century definitions of womanhood. In her search for poisonous dusts, she jumped on table tops, interviewed workers in saloons, climbed dangerous catwalks, and descended deep into mine shafts, clad in workers’ overalls.” In 1911, Hamilton authored a report titled, "The White Lead Industry of the United States, with an Appendix on the Lead Oxide Industry," a groundbreaking study of over 350 cases of lead poisoning in 22 of the 25 white lead factories in America. Hamilton used her research to protect lives by educating factory owners about the disease, since most were unaware. Eleven factories significantly altered their safety precautions after Hamilton spoke to them.
By 1918, Hamilton was the nation's leading expert in industrial toxicology. She had published reports about mercury poisoning, benzene, xylene, and trinitrotoluene production during World War I. |