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238
1911]
FACTORY AND WORKSHOP ADMINISTRATION.
The Medical Officer of Health, in compliance with the Factory and
Workshops Act, reports annually as to the manner in which the Act is
administered in the district over which he has charge. All local authorities
are compelled to keep registers of workshops, and to transmit copies of the
annual reports of their Medical Officer of Health on the subject to the
Secretary of State; in addition to which, in London, copies must be forwarded
to the Local Government Board and the London County Council.
The work under the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, is constantly
increasing, so that whereas at one time it was thought that two inspectors, a
male and female, would be sufficient to execute it, it is now found that three
barely suffice.
Inspectors.—Three inspectors, one male and two females, are engaged in
carrying out the work entailed on the Council under the Act. The male
inspector inspects all factories and workshops where men are employed, and
one female inspector visits factories and workshops, including laundries, where
women are employed, while the other female inspector inspects the homes of
homeworkers, the kitchens of restaurants and other places where food is
prepared.
Inspections and Visits.—The number of inspections and visits paid
was 9,892, as compared with 11,004 in the preceding year, and 11,476 in 1909.
The particulars of these inspections are as follows:—Factories (including
factory laundries), 460; workshops (including workshop laundries), 1,772; workplaces
other than outworkers' premises, 242; bakehouses, 208; kitchens of
restaurants, 388; outworkers' premises, 1,633; miscellaneous re-inspections and
calls, 5,189 ; total, 9,892.
Notices served.—Arising out of these inspections, 469 intimation notices
and 13 statutory notices were served for various purposes. These notices
related to 1,403 defects, of which 1,374 had been remedied at the close of the
year. In addition, 75 notices were served with respect to outworkers' rooms
which were found in an unwholesome state.
Registers.—4,938 workshops are at present on the registers. This
number includes 532 workshops where men are employed, 812 workplaces where