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

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Camden 1965

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Camden]

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Returns were required by the Ministry at the end of 1964 showing the total number of
premises, and action which had been taken by way of inspection and service of notices. Knowing
that registrations were incomplete, it became a question of whether the limited staff available
should be used on securing full registration or on the inspection of premises already registered to
ensure satisfactory conditions.
It was decided that the latter was more important, but that where it was possible to deal
with inspections on the basis of streets or areas, many unregistered premises could be discovered
and dealt with at the same time. This procedure has been reasonably successful, and it was
estimated that nearly 80 per cent. of all premises had been registered by the end of the year. It
is hoped that by the end of 1966 registration will be complete.

The following table shows the work of the Department and its predecessors from the date on which the Act came into force (1 August 1964) to 31 December 1965.

Total Registrations Received
Offices3,697
Shops1,602
Wholesale Warehouses253
Catering Establishments and Canteens542
Fuel Storage Premises11
6,105
Inspections
General Inspections3,077
Re-inspections and other visits5,612
8,689
Number of notices served1,038
Number of notices complied with667

FACTORIES ACT, 1961
Most of the provisions of the Factories Act, 1961, are administered by the Ministry of
Labour through H.M. Factory Inspectors. The local authority is charged with the duty of enforcing
legislation as to sanitary accommodation in all factories in its area and, in those factories where
mechanical power is not used, legislation with regard to cleanliness, overcrowding, temperature,
ventilation and drainage of floors.
Close co-operation is maintained between the Health Department and H.M. Inspector of
Factories, and defaults found in the course of visits of factories are notified between one and the
other according to the body responsible for remedial measures.
Particulars of factory and other inspections carried out by the Council's public health
inspectors during the year 1965 are given in table 14 in the Appendix.
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