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Sanitation (sees. 2, 3, 7 and 8).
The District Council is made the authority responsible for the sanitary condition of the
workshops and workplaces in its district, while the Factory Inspector is responsible for the
sanitary condition of factories. "Sanitary conditions" include (a) cleanliness, (b) air space,
(c) ventilation, and (d) drainage of the floors. For these purposes the provisions of sec. 91 of
the Public Health Act, 1875, apply to all workshops and workplaces, and are supplemented by
certain additional provisions in the Factory Act. It should be noted that the other sanitary
provisions in Part I. of the Act, viz., with regard to temperature and sanitary conveniences
(sees. 6 and 9) are not brought under the law relating to public health, and will therefore be
enforced by the Factory Inspectors.
The requirements of the Act in the matters above-mentioned, which it is the duty of a
District Council to enforce, are as follows:—
(a) Cleanliness (sec. 2). —Every workshop and workplace must be kept in a cleanly state
and free from effluvia, and if not so kept may be dealt with by the Council as a nuisance under
sec. 91 of the Public Health Act, 1875.
If the medical officer of health, or the inspector of nuisances, certifies that it is necessary
for the health of the persons employed that a workshop,* or any part of a workshop, should be
limewashed, cleansed or purified, the District Council may give notice to the owner or occupier
of the workshop to carry out such limewashing, cleansing or purifying as the case may require,
within a time specified in the notice. If the person to whom the notice is addressed fails to
comply with it in the time specified, he will be liable to a penalty of 10s. for each day during
which the default continues, and the Council may themselves undertake the work and recover
the expense from him in a summary manner.
(b) Air space (sees. 2, 3). — Workshops and workplaces must not be overcrowded while work
is carried on so as to be dangerous or injurious to the health of the persons employed, and a
workshop or workplace which is overcrowded may be dealt with as a nuisance under sec. 91 of
the Public Health Act. A workshop is deemed to be owercrowded unless in each room at least
250† cubic feet of air space (or during overtime‡ 400) are allowed for each person employed in
the room, and the Act requires a notice to be affixed in the workshop specifying the number of
persons who may be employed in each room of the workshop.
(c) Ventilation (sees. 2, 7). —Every workshop and workplace must be ventilated in such a
manner as to render harmless as far as practicable any gases, vapours, dust or other impurities
generated in the course of the work that are a nuisance or injurious to health. Any workshop
or workplace not so ventilated may be dealt with as a nuisance under sec. 91 of the Public
Health Act.
This general provision is supplemented in the case of workshops by a special requirement
introduced for the first time by the Act of 1901, that in every room in a workshop sufficient
means of ventilation must be provided and sufficient ventilation maintained, and where a
standard of sufficient ventilation has been prescribed by the Secretary of State (as he has now
power to do) for any class of workshops, that standard must be observed. Workshops, however,
where men only are employed are excluded from the operation of this requirement. Any
workshop where this requirement is contravened may be dealt with as a nuisance.
In workshops where dust, gas, or other impurities are generated and inhaled by the
workers to an injurious extent, the Factory Inspector has power to require the provision of a fan
or other mechanical means for preventing such inhalation. If in any case the Council are of
opinion that this power could be usefully employed, they should refer it to the Inspector of the
district.
(b) Drainage of floors (sec. 8).—A provision introduced for the first time by the Act of
1901, requires that in every workshop or part of a workshop in which any process is carried on
which renders the floor liable to be wet to such an extent that the wet is capable of being
removed by drainage, adequate means shall be provided for draining off the wet. A workshop
not so drained may be dealt with as a nuisance under section 91 of the Public Health Act. This
provision, however, does not apply to workshops in which men only are employed.
(e) Sanitary accommodation. —In districts where Part III. of the Public Health
Amendment Act, 1890, is in force, every building used as a workshop or manufactory, or where
persons are employed or intended to be employed in any trade or business, must be provided
with sufficient and suitable accommodation in the way of sanitary conveniences (see. 22). On a
report from their surveyor that this requirement is not observed in the case of any building, the
Council may serve a written notice on the owner or occupier requiring him to make such
alterations or additions as may be necessary for the purpose.
In districts where Part III. is not in force, the Council may deal with the matter under
sec. 38 of the Public Health Act, 1875, subject to the observance of the requirements of any
Order made by the Secretary of State under sec. 9 of the Factory Act.
(ii.) Safety from fire (sees. 14 and 15).
It is the duty of a District Council to see that every factory and workshop in its
district is provided with sufficient means of escape in case of fire.
☼ In London, this power extends also to domestic factories and to workplaces:— Public Health (London) Act,
1891, sec. 25.
† Under sec. 3 (3) of the Act the Secretary of State has power to alter this amount in the case of a workshop,
not being a domestic workshop, which is occupied by night as a sleeping apartment. By his Order of 17th January,
1902, the amount in such cases is increased to 400 cubic feet.
‡ "Overtime "here means overtime under secs. 49 to 53 and sec. 103 (2) of the Factory Act.
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