[Occupational medicine, witness to social evolution].

Occupational medicine, witness to the industrial and economic evolution of societies, has observed over time the link between diseases and occupational exposures. Nowadays, the transformation of societies brings out new risks, modulated by technical and organizational changes, and our knowledge of their impact on health is constantly evolving. The role of the occupational physician has not changed: he must question and observe in order to know and understand. Its purpose is the same, to prevent workers from falling ill because of their work. It remains essential to pay particular attention to the search for professional factors that may have influenced the disease since the identification and management of the cause is often the best treatment.
Competing Interests: Les auteurs n’ont déclaré aucun conflit d’intérêts en relation avec cet article.