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61
The clause omits to specify (a) the minimum of floor space
or the maximum of height, in the stated amount of cubic space
to be provided for each person; (b) the minimum of height of
any room to be used as a workshop; and (c) the precise quantity
of gas, oil, candle, or other illuminant which shall count as one
person in regard of vitiation of air. It has been stated that
whilst man exhales from 0•56 to 0•67 cubic feet of carbonic acid
per hour, one cubic foot of coal gas burnt will produce two
cubic feet of carbonic acid; that an "ordinary gas-burner" burns
from three to five cubic feet of gas per hour (producing from six
to ten cubic feet of carbonic acid); an "ordinary oil-lamp" burns
150 grains of oil per hour producing 0•5 cubic feet of carbonic
acid; and a candle burning 320 grains per hour produces 0.4
cubic foot of carbonic acid. Therefore the vitiation of the air, by
the burning of half a cubic foot of gas (or about one-sixth the
amount burnt in "an ordinary gas burner"), or "an ordinary
oil-lamp," or a candle of 230 grains, is about equal to that of
one person. It has generally been accepted that one "ordinary
gas burner" is equivalent to three persons in respect of air
pollution—a holding which should be revised forthwith. In
workshops it is usual to have large gas-burners. In such cases
Inspectors not duly put on their guard by the above information,
will be likely to underestimate very greatly the vitiation of air
by consumed gas. The foregoing observations show the need
of an accurate legal standard for artificial lighting in Factories and
Workshops, and especially the latter, which are often very close
and stuffy, and more particularly during cold weather when the
opening of windows, even if not objectionable on hygienic
grounds, is always objected to by the workers themselves. This
standard should be based on actual amount of illuminant burnt
and not, as has hitherto been the custom, on rule-of-thumb
estimate of size of flame.
Clause 3 makes it "the duty of the Sanitary Authority to
inform the Inspector" of Factories "of the proceedings taken"
in consequence of neglect or default under section 4 of the Act