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41
REPORT OF WORK DONE DURING 1905
BY MISS M. W. RICHARDSON, Lady Sanitary Inspector.
The work done during 1905 has comprised the following:—
(1) Inspection of workshops and laundries at which women are
employed.
(2) Inspection of outworkers' premises.
(3) Investigating cases of infantile mortality.
(4) Visiting cases of phthisis voluntarily notified by medical
practitioners.
(5) Visiting cases of measles and other non-notifiable infectious
cases reported by the school authorities.
(6) Visiting to give instruction re management of infants.
(1) Inspection of Workshops and Laundries.
At the end of 1904, there were 339 workshops on the register at
which women were employed. During the year 1905, 70 have been
added and 59 removed, making a total of 350. As before, the majority
added were dressmaking and millinery workshops, the percentage of
these on the register being nearly 80 per cent. of the total number.
Laundries.—All the workshop laundries have been cleansed during
the last thirteen months without notices being necessary. The occupiers
have thus been able to suit their own convenience as regards the time
of cleansing. No case of overcrowding was notified in any laundry
during the year, due doubtless to the fact that the nature of the work
is not such as can be done in limited space. Some of the laundries,
which formerly were classed as "workshops," now rank as "domestic"
only, owing to a reduction in the number of hands employed.
Basement Workrooms. — Two basement workrooms have been
closed during 1905, and three new ones opened, two of which had been
formerly occupied as such. These were personally inspected by the
Medical Officer of Health. There are now 19 on the register.
Ventilation of Workrooms.—The standard of ventilation in some
of the workrooms still leaves much to be desired, though some improvement
may be noted in this respect. The employers themselves appear
anxious to do what they can, but as many of them are not often in the
workrooms, the matter is one which is generally left to the assistants.
The question of ventilating gas iron heaters has received special
attention. In one case a hood was provided communicating with a
trap-door in the roof to carry off the fumes. In two doubtful cases the
question was referred to the Medical Officer of Health, who personally
visited the workshops.
Overcrotvding.—During the year 121 workrooms were measured,
and cards distributed, on which is stated the number of workers that
may be employed. These are hung up in the workrooms. The employers
rarely attempt to take the measurements themselves, and are
generally glad to have the cards. Those cases of overcrowding which
were noted occurred chiefly during the summer months.