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"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 such
building, and also where persons of both sexes are, or
are intended to be, employed, or in attendance, with
proper separate accommodation for persons of each sex."
The standard of "suitable and sufficient" sanitary
accommodation has hitherto varied in different districts, some
authorities taking a much higher standard than others. On
4th February, 1903, the Home Secretary took steps 10 bring
about a much-needed uniformity of administration by issuing
an Order determining what "accommodation in the way of
sanitary conveniences provided in a factory or workshop shall
be deemed sufficient and suitable within the meaning of the
said section" (i.e., section 9 of the Factory and Workshop
Act, 1901). The order being made under this section of the
Act does not technically apply to London or to districts where
section 22 of the Public Health (Amendment) Act, 1890, is in
force, but the standard laid down in it has been very generally
adopted. It was at once adopted in Battersea, and a good
deal of work has been carried out in accordance with its
provisions.
The provisions of the Order are set out below:—
1. In factories or workshops where females are employed
or in attendance there shall be one sanitary convenience for
every 25 females.
In factories or workshops where males are employed or in
attendance there shall be one sanitary convenience for every
25 males: provided that:
(a) In factories or workshops where the number of males
employed or in attendance exceeds 100, and
sufficient urinal accommodation is also provided, it
shall be sufficient if there is one sanitary convenience
for every 25 males up to the first 100, and one for
every 40 after;