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INSPECTOR WEST'S REPORT.
Vestry Offices,
Upper Street,
Islington, N.
January, 1900.
To A. E. Harris, Esq.,
Medical Officer of Health.
Dear Sir,
I have the honour to submit my report to you for the year ending 30th
December, 1899.
I have made 3,860 visits to factories, workshops and workrooms in the parish,
viz.: 1,748 inspections, and 2,112 re-inspections; these include the following
trades:—44 tailors, 72 shoemakers, 124 pianoforte makers, 21 cycle makers, 914
bakehouses, and 2,685 miscellaneous. 196 notices have been served for the abatement
of various nuisances; 57 workshops and workrooms have been cleansed and
lime-whited, whilst 879 other improvements were carried out under my supervision.
Sanitary Defects.—I have found on inspection of several factories and workshops
that inadequate accommodation had been provided in the way of sanitary
conveniences for the workers, both male and female. In many instances it would
appear that employers had commenced business in a small way, but as trade increased
more workers were employed, and any open spaces there existed at that
time are now covered in, thus leaving the w.c.'s in the middle of the workshop,
without any means of external ventilation. These I have had abolished and others
provided in more suitable places, with proper external ventilation, and so that they
may not be entered directly from the workshop. I am happy to say that during the
year 60 additional w.c.'s have been provided, besides in many cases having the
drains reconstructed. I feel sure that what has been done up to the present will
not only prove beneficial to the health of, but also great boon to, those who are
employed in these places, because in many instances no separate accommodation
had been provided up to the time of my inspection. I hope in my next annual
report I shall be able to show another large increase and improvement in this
respect.
Bakehouses.—During the year, 914 visits have been paid to bakehouses, of which
292 have been lime-whited. I am pleased to say that many of the occupiers do their
utmost to keep them in a good sanitary condition; drains have also been reconstructed
and many other improvements carried out for the benefit of the employees.
Miscellaneous Trades.—As the column in the appended table does not give particulars,
I may mention that it includes: —
Smoke Nuisances.—879 visits have been made by me during the above-mentioned
time in various localities in the Parish for the purpose of taking observations of
smoke from the chimneys of factories and workshops, and although there have been
no prosecutions during the year, 42 notices have been served on offenders after
having been first cautioned. This usually has had the desired effect for a time.
Proceedings are now pending against several offenders.
Printers
Box-makers
Bedstead makers
Engineers
Birdcage-makers.
Furriers.
Rag sorters.
Wood choppers
Farriers
Builders.
Telescope Makers.
Wheelwrights.
Dressmakers
Paper bag Makers.
Pianoforte string makers
Laundries.
Cabinet makers.
Paper sorters.
Coach builders.
Barrow makers.
Upholsterers.
Polishers.
Ladder makers.
Ticket writers.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
GEORGE WEST,
Inspector of Workshops, etc.