[Work and health--challenges at the turn of the century]

This article gives an overview of a century of developments in the field of work-related health; relevant legislation, the incidence of work-related accidents and diseases, and the development of occupational health services. It is difficult to evaluate the working environment in Norway, as official statistics concerning work-related accidents and diseases are incomplete. Such data are of major importance for assessments of the effect of interventions in the working environment; hence, improved statistics should be a high priority in the future. There is a need for a national plan for work and health and for devoting more resources to the Labour Inspectorate. The occupational health service is a very good arena for preventive health work; it ought to be better integrated in the Norwegian general preventive health efforts.