London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Lewisham 1966

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]

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OUTWORKERS
Under section 1333 of the Factories Act, 1961 the occupier of every factory and
every contractor employed by him must keep lists showing the names and addresses
of all outworkers directly employed by him and of the places where they are employed,
and must send to the district council in February and in August of each
year, copies of those lists showing all outworkers so employed by him during the
preceding six months. Section 134 of the same Act empowers the district council by
notice in writing to the occupier of a factory or to any contractor employed by
him to prohibit the employment of any persons as home workers in premises which
the council regard as injurious or dangerous to health.
The Home Work Order, 1911, specified the kinds of work to which these two
sections apply. The types of work consist mainly of wearing apparel and textiles,
the making of paper bags, boxes, brushes, baskets, artificial flowers, metal fittings,
etc.

The following is a list or occupations concerned:

Table 38

TradeOutworkers employed
Clothing...130
Boxmaking...6
Lampshades...2
Rosettes...3
Lace...6
Curtains...7
Jewels...8
Toys1
Wigs...1
164

The inspectors made 70 visits during the year. Reports were submitted to the
Council setting out the position with regard to outworkers in the borough. No
adverse comments were made.
OFFICES, SHOPS AND RAILWAY PREMISES ACT, 1963
A very marked increase in the number of visits to premises registered under the
Act was possible during 1966. In addition to the slight improvement in the number
of inspectors due to students qualifying during the year, it has been possible to
obtain the temporary assistance of two inspectors who recently retired from other
authorities and one of them has devoted his whole time to the enforcement of this
Act.
Of the items requiring attention, the most frequently recurring were the following:
Table 39
Abstract of the Act not displayed 329
Absence of a thermometer 228
Absence of a first aid box 189
Absence of a hot water supply 122
Other matters to which it was necessary to draw attention were:
Table 40
Insufficient heating 62
Insufficient lighting 59
Condition of floors and staircases 40
Insufficient washing facilities 34
Facilities for drying clothes 26
Insufficient ventilation 23
Insufficient sanitary accommodation 22
Absence of drinking water 13
Lack of seating facilities 9
Poor standard of cleanliness 9
63