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Cleanliness.—87 workrooms were found in a dirty condition: 23 of
these were cleansed on the verbal request of the Inspector; 64 were
cleansed under notice.
Ventilation.—The power to deal with badly-ventilated workrooms is
much increased by Section 7 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901.
Here it is stated that "in every room in any factory or workshop
sufficient means of ventilation shall be provided and sufficient ventilation
shall be maintained." In 12 workrooms sufficient ventilation was not
maintained, and permanent ventilators have been fixed in these.
The Inspector in all cases explains the necessity for ventilation and
draws the attention of the occupiers of workrooms to the clause quoted
above, and on the whole there has been a distinct improvement in the
matter of keeping windows open. In the register of inspections the
state of ventilation is recorded.
Warming.—During December several workrooms were found which
were either not warmed at all or were being heated by open gas jets
thus not complying with Section 6 of the Factory and Workshop Act,
where it is stated that "in every factory and workshop adequate
measures must be taken for securing and maintaining a reasonable
temperature in each room in which any person is employed, but the
measures so taken must not interfere with the purity of the air of any
room in which any person is employed."
In the majority of cases the Inspector was able to persuade
occupiers to arrange to warm the workrooms with fires or gas-stoves
with flues; other cases were reported to H.M. Inspector of Factories, the
Local Authority having unfortunately no power to enforce the law
regarding temperature.