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REPORT ON FACTORY INSPECTION.
The number of inspections carried out in Willesden factories is shown in Table I. Since the last
Annual Report the number of factories on the register has increased from 771 to 874, mainly due to the
fact that a large number of butchers and bakers, etc., use small electric motors for their work, e.g., with
sausage machines, etc., and consequently their premises become mechanical factories subject to the jurisdiction
of H.M. Inspector of Factories; many of these premises had not been entered on the register of
factories kept by the local authority.
The local authority has the following duties in non-mechanical factories : cleanliness, overcrowding,
temperature, ventilation, drainage of floors where wet processes are carried out, and sanitary accommodation.
Its duties in mechanical factories are confined to sanitary accommodation.
The local authority has no power to deal with lighting of premises, welfare provisions, dangerous or
unsuitable premises, but they are responsible for means of escape in case of fire, and this is carried out by
the Borough Surveyor.
H.M. Inspector of Factories supervises all factories and reports to the local authority any infringement
which comes under its control. This leads to a duplication of inspections : a visit from the factory
inspector is followed shortly afterwards by a visit from the sanitary inspector; this is often resented by the
factory owner. The local authority could easily undertake the supervision of the health and welfare of the
workers in industry, and the factory inspector could supervise the safety of machinery, the working hours for
young persons, and other matters not directly affecting the health of factory employees.
There were 78 non-mechanical and 796 mechanical factories in Willesden at the end of the year, and
there were many changes of manufacture, particularly in the smaller factory; 52 factories were closed down
or removed from the district and 51 new factories established. There is a big demand for factory premises
in the area.
There has been a general improvement in the conditions of work in the smaller factories in converted
premises, that are often unsatisfactory.
Underground Rooms Used as Factories.
At the end of the year 16 underground rooms were in use as factories, and all but 3 are used in conjunction
with other premises above ground. There has been an improvement in the condition of these
premises, and two basements which have been redecorated and repaired are now in good condition.
Outworkers and Homeworkers.
It is the duty of all factory occupiers to send to the district council during the months of February
and August in each year a list showing the names and addresses of all persons directly employed by them
outside the factory during the past six months.
The sanitary inspectors visit these premises to see that they are kept in a good condition. Where the
work or premises are dangerous or injurious to health, the district council may give notice to the occupier
of the factory or to any contractor, and the occupier or the contractor commits an offence if work is carried
out in that place ten days after the receipt of the notice.
There are 872 outworkers on the register and 678 visits were made to their premises, one notice was
served for a minor matter and this was immediately attended to.