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The following domestic workshops were also notified to
H.M. Inspector:—
Dressmakers 2
Tailors 2
Laundries 2
Sanitary Condition of Workshops.
Cleanliness.—In the matter of cleanliness, the condition
of the workshops in certain trades was found to be unsatisfactory.
No less than 127 work-rooms, or rather more than
12 per cent, of the total, were in a dirty condition at the time
of inspection. The workshops in which dirty work-rooms were
found were chiefly laundries, tailors, and cycle makers.
Air Space.—The work-rooms found to be overcrowded
were thirteen in number, most of these being in tailors'
workshops. The standard of air space adopted is, of course,
that laid down in Section 3 of the Act, which prescribes 250
cubic feet per head during ordinary hours. In a considerable
number of work-rooms the provisions of the Act were only just
complied with, there being practically 110 excess of air space.
Ventilation.— On the whole, it may be said that the means
of ventilation provided are not inadequate. The difficulty
is that the means provided are not used, the workers themselves
being chiefly to blame in this respect. In some cases it was
found that considerable ingenuity had been exercised to block
up most of the available openings.
Drainage of Floors on which wet processes are carried
on. —Fifteen workshops, all of which were laundries, failed to
comply with Section 8 of the Act, which prescribes that in
workshops where "wet processes" are carried on, adequate
means shall be provided for draining off the wet from the floors.
Provision oj sufficient and suitable sanitary conveniences.
—This matter is dealt with more fully on page 114. In thirtyseven
workshops the sanitary conveniences were unsatisfactory.
The defects in this connection are usually found on premises
which have been hastily adapted for the purposes of the
business. Where, as often happens, this process involves the