View report page

16
(f) All openings through walls by which pipes enter buildings such as
water, gas, electricity mains, ventilating tubes, holes behind fascia or sign
boards, etc., or beneath stall boards, should be carefully blocked up.
(g) To prevent the black rat getting into the building by way of the
upper floors or the roof, the posts and carriers of telegraph and telephone
wires, cornices and window ledges, openings in the roofs such as chimneys,
skylights, etc., should be guarded by wire or sheet metal. These measures
are especially necessary where restaurants or canteen kitchens are situated
on the upper floors of premises.
(2) To prevent the rats already on the premises getting food or water:—
(a) All food must be kept on unclimbable surfaces such as counters
with marble sides or in rat-proof receptacles (metal bins, metal-lined
drawers, etc.), or in rat-proof larders or store rooms.
(b) Where meals are consumed on premises every particle of food,
even the crumbs, should be gathered up each evening and removed.
(c) Any refuse which cannot be burnt and which must be stored in
kitchens should be kept in metal bins, the covers of which must fit tightly
and not be left off.
(d) The rats should not be allowed to gain access to water or other
suitable drink; any receptacles containing water which cannot be done
away with should be kept properly covered.
(3) To prevent rats already on the premises nesting and breeding:—
In buildings where lath and plaster ceilings are attached to the joists
or rafters, the lath and plaster should be removed leaving the joists exposed.
In new buildings, floors and ceilings should be of solid construction.
Inspection of Workshops, etc.
The routine inspection of factories, workshops and workplaces has been carried
out during the year. 184 factories were inspected, 223 workshops and 3,402
workplaces. 188 intimation notices were served, namely, factories 29, workshops
43, and workplaces 116.
The Sanitary Accommodation Order of the 4th February, 1903, does not apply
to London, and it is desirable that some standard for sanitary accommodation in
London workshops should be set up.
Difficulty is sometimes experienced in dealing with workshops or workplaces
where the number of persons of both sex employed fluctuates frequently and
largely, and some definite standard as to the number of W.C-.'s that should be
provided for places of this character is desirable with a view to securing uniformity
of requirements. This number should not be merely the number adequate for
the average number employed, and yet, if the fluctuations are very large and
frequent, a large number of persons being occupied for a few days consecutively,
the requirement of provision of W.C.'s for the largest number employed might be
considered to press unduly on the employers,