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26
is often of an intermittent character. The act provides for any three
persons aggrieved by a noise nuisance to initiate action by complaining
to a Magistrate.
During the year, 41 complaints were received in the Health
Department and investigated by the public health inspectors, involving
a total of 89 visits. Some complaints related to noise
occurring during the evening or at night which necessitated evening
visits and observations by the inspectors. In other instances
investigations proved that little or no justification existed for
complaint. The majority, however, related to noise caused by
industrial machinery of various kinds and in most cases an informal
approach by the inspectors was met by a willing co-operation
on the part of the offenders to seek methods of abating or lessening
the noise. In no case was it necessary to serve a notice under the
provisions of the Act.
Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act, 1963
The staff shortages which continued throughout the year
have affected progress being made in the general inspections of
registered premises. Initial inspections under the Act numbered
524 and the total inspections and re-inspections was 1,534.
In 156 instances contraventions of the Act were found, approximately
one-half being due to the non-provision of first aid equipment.
As has been generally the case since the inception of the
Act, no difficulty was experienced in obtaining compliance with
the Act. when contraventions were brought to the notice of the
responsible persons. Accidents notified were again of a comparatively
minor character and of the 62 notifications received during
the year, approximately one-third were caused by falls of various
kinds and one-third as the result of handling goods.