Bernardino Ramazzini's publication of 'De Morbis Artificum Diatriba' in 1700 is considered a foundational work in occupational medicine, systematically describing illnesses associated with various occupations. Ramazzini's insights into the health risks faced by workers laid the groundwork for future research and reforms in workplace safety. His emphasis on the relationship between work and health has had a lasting impact on public health policy and labor regulations.

By linking labour conditions to bodily suffering, Ramazzini's work helped make workers' health a subject for social observation, later echoed in industrial poetry, reform writing, and realist literature. Poets like William Morris began to address social issues and advocate for workers' rights in their verses.