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120
Workplaces.
Although the term "workplace" occurs in both the Factory
Act and the Public Health (London) Act, in neither Act is it
defined; but in the case of Bennett v. Harding, under
section 38 of the latter Act, it was held that the term "workplace"
includes any "place where work is done permanently
and where people assemble together to do work permanently
of some kind or other." In this case a stable and stable-yard
where men were employed as cab-cleaners and horse-keepers,
was held to be a workplace. The Home Secretary has been
advised that kitchens of restaurants, &c., are workplaces.
The restaurant and coffee-house kitchens in Battersea were
first brought under systematic sanitary supervision in 1902, when
a thorough inspection was made by Inspector Benjamin. In
that year the kitchens were 83 in number. The total
number on the register at the end of 1904 was 92, and
during 1905 2 new kitchens were opened and the use of
7 discontinued, making a total at the end of 1905 of 87.
At the beginning of 1905 7 of these kitchens were underground,
but during the year 1 underground kitchen was closed and the
work done in a kitchen on the ground level in the same
building. At the present time there are, therefore, 6 underground
kitchens in Battersea. The sanitary condition of the
kitchens has been much improved since they have been brought
under systematic supervision, but, as mentioned in previous
annual reports, there is much need of bye-laws to regulate the
structural condition of the premises, the way in which they are
kept, and the way in which the food is stored and prepared. A
list of the kitchens is given on the following page.