This work has identified diverse situations that could cause injury and illness, and even death, among workers, giving rise to reiterative presence of occupational hazards that have been and continue to be object of varied interpretations and intervention approaches, depending upon evolution of concepts of health and work. in this sense, the history of humanity is intimately related to that of attempts to remedy illness and avoid death (Ballesteros s/f, 1). This article summarizes, from an analytical perspective, chronological development that occupational hazards prevention has undergone, considering its intervention scenarios in organizational world. in general, ancient and modern societies have been indifferent to health and safety of workers. first significant approach began during second World War, when importance of focusing on health of working population became evident in order to satisfy needs for production at defense industry companies as well as due to actions by workers' organizations. As a result, and until present, there has been a rapid development in this field of knowledge, in both technical and administrative realms, and in recent years integration of occupational hazards prevention with structure and operation of organizations. this is particularly due to fact that it has been entrepreneurs who have generally determined working conditions.