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204
1909]
FACTORY AND WORKSHOP ADMINISTRATION.
Under section 133 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, it is required
of the Medical Officer of Health of every district Council to report specifically
in his Annual Report on the administration of the Act in workshops and workplaces,
and to send a copy of his report, or such part of it as deals with this
subject, to the Secretary of State. But, apart from this consideration, it is of
great importance to the community that they should know in what manner
workshops, which include laundries, bakehouses, restaurant kitchens, and outworkers'
premises, are conducted, because of the effect these premises would
have on the public health if they were not kept in a sanitary condition.
The work of this part of the Public Health Department is, therefore, of no
less importance than any other which it undertakes.
Inspectors.—1 male and 2 female Inspectors are engaged in executing the
work entailed on the Council under this Act. The duty of the male Inspector
is to inspect factories, workshops, and workplaces where men are employed;
while that of one of the Female Inspectors is to visit factories and workshops,
including laundries and workplaces where women are employed; and that of
the second Female Inspector is to inspect the homes of outworkers, the kitchens
of restaurants and of all places where food is prepared.
Inspections and Visits.—There were 11,470 inspections and visits made
to the various premises, as compared with 11,505 in the preceding year, and
with 10,727 in 1907 and 6,908 in 1900. To factories, which include factory
laundries, were paid 447 visits, as compared with 434 in the preceding year;
to workshops, which include workshop laundries, 1,820 visits were made, as
against 2,008; to workplaces other than outworkers' premises, 311, as against
248; to kitchens and restaurants 822, as against 800; to outworkers' premises,
1,328, as against 995, while miscellaneous re-inspections and calls amounted to
0,748, as against 6,508.
The slight decrease was due to the ill health which compelled the male
Inspector's absence from duty for some time.
Notices served.—780 intimations and 4 statutory notices were served
on the owners of premises or proprietors of businesses, relating to 1,750 sanitary
defects, of which 1,595 had been remedied at the close of the year. In
addition to these notices, 66 relating to 119 sanitary defects were served at the
homes of outworkers. These notices compare with 642 in the preceding year.