View report page

38
REPORT OF WORK DONE DURING 1908
BY MISS M. W. RICHARDSON, Lady Sanitary Inspector.
The work done during 1908 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.
(5) Visiting cases of measles and other non-notifiable infectious
cases notified by the school authorities.
(6) Visiting to give instruction re management of infants.
(7) Visiting special cases reported from hospitals, and other
agencies, &c.
(1.) Inspection of Workshops and Laundries.
During the year there were 51 new workshops registered, and 61
removed from the register, the total number at the end of the year
being 350. Some of the workshops were temporary workrooms only,
in order to provide for extra accommodation during the season. The
proportion of dressmaking and millinery workshops continues about
the same, being more than 75 per cent. of the total number.
Laundries.—There were 14 workshop laundries on the register at
the end of 1908. In addition there were 3 factory and 14 domestic
laundries, making a total of 31 laundries in Chelsea at the present
time. Owing to a reduction in the number of workers employed, some
of the laundries, which formerly ranked as " workshop," must now be
classed as " domestic." There was no case of overcrowding noted during
the year.
Basement Workrooms.—All basement workrooms that are newly
established are visited personally by the Medical Officer of Health.
Seven were opened during the year, and 5 were closed, making a total
of 24 on the register at the end of the year. In two cases, structural
alterations were ordered to be carried out previous to occupation, and
in others extra means of ventilation were provided. It is to be regretted
that there is inadequate statutory power for dealing with basement
workrooms.
General Workrooms. — Fifty-three workrooms were measured
during 1908, for which workroom cards were given. The employers
show increasing willingness to co-operate in this respect. It is now
customary for the employers to write and ask for new workrooms to be
measured before they are actually occupied, in order to ascertain how