M.S. v. Sweden
Country: SwedenYear: 1997
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: App. No. 20837/92, Eur. Ct. H.R. 49 (1997).
Health Topics: Health information, Health systems and financing, Occupational health
Human Rights: Right to due process/fair trial, Right to privacy
Applicant was a Swedish citizen who slipped and fell at work. She made a claim for compensation under the Industrial Injury Insurance Act from the State Insurance Office. The applicant’s lawyer made a routine request for her file and it was revealed that the State Office had been in correspondence with the women’s clinic and …Read more
Consumer Education and Research Centre, et al. v. Union of India and Others
Country: IndiaYear: 1995
Court: Supreme Court of India
Citation: Consumer Educ. & Research Ctr. v. Union of India, 1995 S.C.C. (3) (India).
Health Topics: Chronic and noncommunicable diseases, Health systems and financing, Occupational health
Human Rights: Right to favorable working conditions, Right to health, Right to life, Right to social security
The Consumer Education and Research Center filed several writ petitions against the State of India under Article 32 (obligation to promote social justice and welfare of the people) of the Indian Constitution regarding the protection of workers against the occupational health hazards and diseases associated with asbestos exposure. The petitioner applied for remedial measures to …Read more
Kerojärvi v. Finland
Country: FinlandYear: 1995
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: App. No. 17506/90, 32 Eur. H.R. Rep. 8 (2001).
Health Topics: Disabilities, Health systems and financing, Occupational health
Human Rights: Right of access to information, Right to due process/fair trial
The applicant was a Finnish national who had retired from the military after receiving a shrapnel wound in his back during his service in the wars between Finland and the Soviet Union. Although the State Office for Accident Compensation (Compensation Office) acknowledged that the shrapnel wound was a “military injury” for purposes of compensation under …Read more
Case 152
Country: NicaraguaYear: 1992
Court: Supreme Court of Justice
Citation: Corte Supreme de Justicia, ELECTROQUIMICA PESADA S.A. c. Ministro de Economía y Desarrollo, y otros,
Health Topics: Chronic and noncommunicable diseases, Environmental health, Occupational health, Public safety
Human Rights: Right to a clean environment, Right to favorable working conditions, Right to work
Electroquimica Pesada S.A. (the “Company”), was operating with outdated equipment and was releasing emissions of chlorine and other noxious gases into the environment that posed harm to both its employees as well as the residents of Nicaragua. The Company was required to shut down its operations by a series of orders issued by the Minister …Read more
Automobile Workers v. Johnson Controls
Country: United StatesYear: 1991
Court: Supreme Court
Citation: 499 U.S. 187 (1991)
Health Topics: Child and adolescent health, Occupational health, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination
The Appellants, a class of current and future employees of the Respondent’s battery manufacturing company, Johnson Controls, brought suit claiming that the company’s policy of barring fertile women from employment for reasons based on occupational safety, constituted sex discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (the Act). The primary …Read more
C.E.S.C. Ltd. v. Subhash Chandra Bose and Ors
Country: IndiaYear: 1991
Court: Supreme Court
Citation: 1992 AIR 573; 1991 SCR Supl. (2) 267; MANU/SC/0466/1992
Health Topics: Health systems and financing, Occupational health
Human Rights: Right to favorable working conditions, Right to health, Right to life
Calcutta Electricity Supply Corporation (India) Ltd. (CESC), the Appellant, engaged contractors (the Respondents), including Mr. Subhash Chandra Bose, to provide “excavation, conversion of overhead electric lines and laying of underground cables under public roads, as well as for repair and maintenance.” The Regional Director of the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) notified the Appellant that …Read more
M.C. Mehta v. State of Tamil Nadu, et al.(Sivaski child labor case)
Country: IndiaYear: 1990
Court: Supreme Court
Citation: AIR 1991 SC 417; (1991) 1 Mlj 44 (SC); 1990 (2) SCALE 947); [1991] 3 SCR 312
Health Topics: Child and adolescent health, Occupational health, Poverty
Human Rights: Right to education, Right to favorable working conditions, Right to work
The Petitioner was an individual concerned about the high rate of employment of children in the Match factories of Sivakasi in Kamaraj District of the State of Tamil Nadu. Petitioner contended that such employment was hazardous and unconstitutional. He filed a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution seeking educational, medical and health facilities …Read more
Bandhua Mukti Morcha v. Union of India and others (1983)
Country: IndiaYear: 1983
Court: Supreme Court
Citation: AIR 1984 SC 802; 1984 Lab IC 560; 1983 (2) SCALE 1151; (1984) 3 SCC 161; [1984 ] 2 SCR 67; 1984 (16) UJ 29
Health Topics: Occupational health, Poverty, Water, sanitation and hygiene
Human Rights: Right to favorable working conditions, Right to social security, Right to work
The Petitioner was an ‘an organisation dedicated to the cause of release of bonded labourers’. It conducted a survey in stone quarries and mines in Faridabad district. It found that several workmen in these mines were migrant workers from other States in India who were ‘bonded labourers.’ They were living in conditions of abject poverty. …Read more
United States v. Westinghouse Electric Corporation
Country: United StatesYear: 1980
Court: 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal
Citation: 638 F.2d 570 (3d Cir. 1980)
Health Topics: Health information, Occupational health
Human Rights: Right to favorable working conditions, Right to privacy
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) began a health hazard evaluation of a Westinghouse Electric Corporation plant in Pennsylvania after receiving a request from an authorized union representative from Westinghouse Electric Corporation. Physicians and an industrial hygienist employed by NIOSH did walk-through inspections of the plant. The inspecting physicians suspected that the …Read more
Sunshine Porcelain Potteries Proprietary Ltd. v. Nash
Country: AustraliaYear: 1961
Court: Privy Council
Citation: [1961] AC 927; [1961] 3 All ER 203; [1961] 3 WLR 747; 105 SJ 606
Health Topics: Chronic and noncommunicable diseases, Disabilities, Occupational health
Ms. Nash brought an action for compensation under the Victorian Worker’s Compensation Act 1928 (the 1928 Act) against her former employers, Sunshine Porcelain. She claimed compensation was payable after she contracted silicosis in the workplace. Sunshine Porcelain Potteries employed Ms. Nash in the years 1931-38. During her time as an employee of Sunshine Porcelain, Ms. …Read more