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102
The systematic inspection of outworkers' premises is carried out
by the two Workshop Inspectors (Inspector Benjamin and Miss Ross
Brown). The former deals with male outworkers and the latter with
female. In addition to the inspection of the homes of outworkers
the lists kept by the firms established in Battersea of outworkers
employed by them are regularly inspected, and care taken that these
lists are kept in the manner and form prescribed by sec. 107 of the
Factory and Workshop Act.
During 1912, 760 inspections of outworkers' dwellings were
made, 357 of which were made by the female Workshop Inspector.
It was found necessary to serve 39 notices in connection with homework
inspection, the results of which are summarised as follows:—
Total number of inspections 760
Number of notices served 39
Number of outworkers on register 240
There has been a marked increase in the number of inspections
of outworkers' dwellings during 1912 as compared with the previous
year, rendered possible by the filling up of the vacancy caused by the
resignation of the female Workshop Inspector (Miss Fairbairn) early
in 1911. The new female Workshop Inspector entered on her duties
in the second half of the year 1912, and some of the arrears of Workshop
and homework inspection were worked off, and it is to be anticipated
that at the end of 1913 the annual average of inspections for
the ten years prior to 1911 will have been maintained.
The defects found in outworkers' premises were mainly those
referring to want of cleanliness of rooms, defective sanitary fittings,
&c.
Five cases of infectious disease, viz., diphtheria, were notified
from outworkers' homes during 1912. The patients were immediately
removed to hospital, and precautions taken to prevent the
spread of infection.