London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Battersea 1912
Report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea for the year 1912
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At the beginning of 1912 the number of workshops on the register
was 564, as compared with 600 at the beginning of 1911. During 1912
the occupation of 35 of these premises was discontinued, while on the
other hand 31 new workshops were added, so that at the end of 1912
the total number of these premises was 560, in which were employed
2,094 persons (1,254 males, 840 females). During 1912, 28 workshops
were notified to H.M. Inspector in pursuance of sec. 133 of the
Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, which directs that "when any
woman, young person or child is employed in a workshop in which no
abstract of the Act is affixed as by this Act required, and the Medical
Officer of Health becomes aware thereof, he shall forthwith give
written notice thereof to the Inspector for the district."
The following table gives particulars relating to new workshops in which "protected persons" were employed, notices of which were duly sent to H.M. Inspector during 1912:—
| Trade. | No. of Work shops. | Protected Persons employed | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women | Young Persons. | Total. | ||
| Bootmaking | 1 | - | 1 | 1 |
| Dressmaking | 5 | 12 | 4 | 16 |
| Laundry | 1 | 3 | — | 3 |
| Tailoring | 3 | — | 6 | 6 |
| Miscellaneous | 18 | 12 | 18 | 30 |
| Totals | 28 | 27 | 29 | 56 |
Sanitary Condition of Workshops.
The local authority is the authority responsible for the condition
of workshops and workplaces in its district. Sanitary conditions
includc (a) cleanliness, (b) air space, (c) ventilation, (d) drainage of
floors, (e) provision of sanitary accommodation.
During 1912, 3,769 visits of inspection were paid by the Workshop
Inspectors to factories, workshops and workplaces, exclusive of
visits to home workers. The following is a tabulated statement of