Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Forty-first annual report of the Medical Officer of Health on the vital and sanitary condition of the Borough of Saint Pancras, London
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to be employed, at one time in any manufacture, trade, or business,
the Local Authority may, if they think fit, by written notice, require
the owner or occupier of such house, within the time therein specified,
to construct a sufficient number of water-closets, earth-closets, or
privies and ash-pits, for the separate use of each sex.
" Any person who neglects or refuses to comply with any such notice
shall be liable for each default to a penalty not exceeding twenty
pounds, and to a further penalty not exceeding forty shillings for
every day during which the default is continued."
From this section it appears that any Local Authority, Urban or Rural, can
take action, and that it only applies to premises where both sexes are employed,
and that it is not retrospective.
" Public Health Acts Amendment Act, 1895, Section 22.
" (1) Every building used as a workshop or manufactory, or where persons
are employed, or intended to be employed, in any trade or business,
whether erected before or after the adoption of this part of this Act
in any district, shall be provided with sufficient and suitable accommodation
in the way of sanitary conveniences, having regard to the
number of persons employed in or in attendance at such building,
and also where persons of both sexes are employed, or intended
to be employed or in attendance, With proper separate accommodation
for persons of each sex.
" (2) Where it appears to an Urban Authority on the report of their Surveyor
that the provisions of this section are not complied with in the
case of any building, the Urban Authority may, if they think fit, bv
written notice, require the owner or occupier of any such building to
make such alterations and additions therein as may be required to
give such sufficient, suitable, and proper accommodation as aforesaid.
" (3) Any person who neglects or refuses to comply with any such notice
shall be liable for each default to a penalty not exceeding Twenty
Pounds and to a daily penalty not exceeding Forty Shillings.
" (4) Where this section is in force Section 38 of the Public Health Act,
1875, shall be repealed,"
This section repeals the previously quoted Section, so far as concerns
Urban Districts that have adopted this section. It will be observed that
this section applies to every factory and workshop whether persons of both sexes
are employed or not. It will be further observed that this section is retrospective,
and applies to factories and workshops used before 1890. It will
be further observed that neither of these Acts applies to London, but are
useful as demonstrating the general position.
" Public Health (London) Act, 1891, Section 38.
" (1) Every factory, workshop, and workplace, whether erected before or
after the passing of this Act, shall be provided with sufficient and
suitable accommodation in the way of sanitary conveniences, regard
being had to the number of persons employed in or in attendance at