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 1913
Report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea for the year 1913
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At the beginning of 1913 the number of workshops on the
register was 560, as compared with 564 at the beginning of 1912.
During 1913, the occupation of 74 of these premises was discontinued,
while, on the other hand, 53 new workshops were added,
so that at the end of 1913 the total number of these premises was
539, in which were employed 1,971 persons (1,097 males, 874
females). During 1913, 33 workshops were notified to H.M.
Inspector in pursuance of Section 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 1913:—
| Trade. | No. of Works shops . | Protected Persons employed. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women. | Young Persons. | Total. | ||
| Bootmaking | 2 | — | 2 | 2 |
| Dressmaking | 13 | 21 | 20 | 41 |
| Laundry | 2 | 13 | — | 13 |
| Tailoring | 4 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Miscellaneous | 12 | 1 | 13 | 14 |
| Totals | 33 | 87 | 41 | 78 |
Sanitary Condition of Workshops.
The local authority is the authority responsible for the
condition of workshops and workplaces in its district. Sanitary
conditions include (a) cleanliness, (b) air space, (c) ventilation,
(d) drainage of floors, (e) provision of sanitary accommodation.
During 1913, the number of visits of inspection paid by the
Workshop Inspectors to factories, workshops, and workplaces
was 3,956, exclusive of visits to home-workers. The following
is a tabulated statement of the work carried out in connection
with workshop inspection during 1913, so far as it admits of
tabulation:—