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86
The systematic inspection of outworkers' premises is carried
out by the male and female Workshop Inspectors. The former
deals with male outworkers and the latter with female. The lists
which are required to be kept under the provisions of the Act by
Battersea firms, of outworkers employed by them, are regularly
inspected by the Council's Officers, and care taken that these lists
are properly kept and in the manner prescribed by the Act.
The lists are required to be sent in twice yearly, February and
August, but at times difficulty is experienced in getting some
employers to recognise their obligation in this respect, but it has
not been found necessary to resort to legal proceedings to enforce
the requirement.
During 1910, 954 inspections were made, and 55 notices were
served in connection with homework inspection, the results of which
are summarised as follows:—
Male Outworkers (Inspector Benjamin).
Number of male outworkers on register 71
Total number of inspections 175
Number of notices served 10
Five outworkers removed during the year, and 7 new outworkers
were registered.
Female Outworkers (Miss Fairbairn).
Number of female outworkers on register 199
Total number of inspections 779
Number of notices served 45
During 1910, 82 female outworkers had removed or discontinued
for various reasons.
The defects found in outworkers' premises were mainly those
referring to want of cleanliness of rooms, defective sanitary fittings,
&c.
Two cases of scarlet fever occurred in two outworkers' homes
during the year. It was not found necessary in either instance
to stop the work or to take other proceedings under the Act. The
patients were immediately removed to hospital, and special precautions
were taken to prevent the spread of infection.