Hans Egli

Hans Egli grew up in Frutigen. He studied chemistry at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH and worked as a chemist in Basel. After retiring, he moved back to Frutigen. He has since published various books about local history.

The dark history of Frutigen’s match factories

Hans Egli 30.12.2025 The production of matches using white phosphorus brought work to the impoverished area around Frutigen in the second half of the 19th century. The region subsequently evolved to become the centre of a match manufacturing industry characterised by child labour and hazardous working conditions. The worst effect was phosphorus necrosis of the jaw, a horrible disease that eroded the jaw bones.

Phosphorus matches from the 19th century.