Deadly occupations: Examining the mortality pattern in steel workers, coal and iron ore miners between 1909 and 1917 in Sydney, Glace Bay and Bell Island

The research presented in this thesis represents a comprehensive study of Canadian occupational health in the past using an historical demographic and epidemiological model. Working age males (15--64 years) from three single-industry communities (Sydney, Glace Bay, and Bell Island) were chosen to examine how occupation affected mortality patterns during the Canadian industrial era. The interconnectedness of the three locales during the study period (1909-1917) creates a perfect setting for a comparative study. Thus the major focus of this research is an examination of how occupation can alter the mortality pattern of a specific cohort of men involved in mining and steel working operations.