[Legislation regarding safety in the work environment and the handling of toxic substances in the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century].

The paper deals with selected occupational safety and health regulations in Croatia in the last century and at the beginning of this century, which aimed at protecting the worker in crafts, industry, on farms and in various other occupations against the effects of toxic and other noxious substances and against injury at the workplace. Regulations relating to health protection of the general population from the adverse effects of particular substances are also discussed. Toxic metals (e.g. lead, copper, tin, arsenic) were to be found in various types of pottery or in the colouring matter for use in foodstuffs and drinks as well as in dyes used in the manufacturing of toys, paints and wall-paper. Apart from sporadic decisions and legal actions organized occupational health care was non-existent at that time. Laws and regulations concerning protection from occupational and non-occupational hazards came into force progressively, with developing knowledge about beneficial and adverse features of various substances in human use.