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the Act of that year, which is now called the Principal Act. Since 1878
have been passed the Factory and Workshop Acts of 1883, 1891, and 1895,
" The Cotton Cloth Factories Act of 1889," "The Shop Hours Act of 1892
and 1895," and " The Truck Amendment Act of 1887.
These Factory and Workshop Acts are very complex, and it is desirable
that they should be consolidated and simplified.
The effect of all legislation since 1878 has been to hand over more and
more the administration of the sanitary provisions of these Acts to the
Sanitary Authorities.
All that now remains under the administration of the Factory Department
of the Home Office is the partial supervision of the sanitary provisions
in those factories that are factories within the meaning of the Act, for notice
of all the sanitary defects and nuisances in factories and workshops that can
be remedied by " The Public Health Acts," is sent by the Factory Inspectors
to the Sanitary Authority, and it is the duty of the Sanitary Authority by the
last Act of 1895, "within one month," to inform the Inspector of the proceedings
taken in consequence of the notice.
Future legislation probably will simplify the Acts, and make the Sanitary
Authority responsible for the sanitary condition of all workplaces of all kinds.
In the " Factory and Workshop Acts," the word " Factory " means not only
any premises or place, whether in the open air or not, wherein steam, water,
or other mechanical power is used in aid of the manufacturing process carried
on there, but also includes any premises or place in which any of the following
occupations are carried on, whether mechanical power is used or not,
namely :—
Print Works. Copper Mills.
Bleaching and Dyeing Works. Iron Mills.
Earthenware Works. Foundries.
Lucifer Mitch Works Paper Mills.
Percussion Cap Works Glass Works.
Cartridge Works. Tobacco Works.
Paper Staining Works. Letterpress Printing Works.
Fustian Cutting Works. Bookbinding Works.
Blast Furnaces for Smelting. Flax Scutch Mills.
Many of the duties and obligations of the Sanitary Authority in reference
to factories, workshops, and workplaces are contained in the " Public Health
(London) Act, 1891."
Section 38 is the most comprehensive of all, for by it every factory,
workshop and workplace shall be provided with suitable and sufficient