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200
1910]
FACTORY AND WORKSHOP ADMINISTRATION.
The 133rd section of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, provides that
the Medical Officer of Health of every District Council shall report specifically
in his annual report on the administration of the Act so far as it refers to
workshops and workplaces, and that he shall send a copy of his report, or such
part of it as deals with such administration to the Secretary of State.
Inspectors.—The work of administration is carried on by three inspectors,
one male and two females. To the male inspector is delegated the inspection
of factories, workshops, and workplaces where males are employed, and to
the females similar places, including the homes of outworkers, where females
are employed. One of these ladies confines her attention to factories and
workshops, which include laundries and workplaces, while the second inspects
the homes of outworkers, the kitchens of restaurants, and all places where
food is prepared. Hence it will be seen that the work of the three inspectors
is of considerable importance, not only to the workpeople, but to the community.
Inspections and Visits.—There were 11,004 inspections and visits made
to the various premises, as compared with 11,476 in the preceding year, with
11,505 in 1908, with 10,727 in 1907, and with 0,908 in 1906. To factories,
which include factory laundries, were paid 429 visits, as compared with 447
in the preceding year; to workshops, which include workshop laundries, 1,870
visits were made, as against 1,820; to workplaces other than outworkers'
premises, 259, as against 311; to kitchens and restaurants 477, as against 822;
to outworkers' premises, 1,114, as against 1,328, while miscellaneous re-inspections
and calls amounted to 0,381, as against 0,748.
The slight decrease was due to the ill health which compelled the male
Inspector's absence from duty for some time, as well as to the want of a
female inspector for a time, after the retirement of Miss Brown, and before the
appointment of her successor.
Notices served.—608 intimations and 9 statutory notices were served
on the owners of premises of proprietors of businesses, relating to 1,638 sanitary
defects, of which 1,600 had been remedied at the close of the year. In
addition to these notices, 70 relating to 70 sanitary defects were served at the
homes of outworkers. All these notices compare with 780 in the preceding
year.