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and houses are in close proximity. The solution would
appear to be in planning but this is a long term view, and
it will be many years before the re-zoning of industrial
and residential buildings can be put into practice generally.
The construction and design of houses and flats, with
soundproofing, is also an important factor in the elimination
of nuisances due to noise and vibration and architectural
design is already moving rapidly to this end.
Offices Act, 1960
This Act, which will come into operation on Ist January
1962, is designed to regulate the health, safety and
welfare of persons employed in offices. It empowers the
Home Secretary to make regulations for this purpose and
in particular:-
(a) for the provision of sufficient and suitable
sanitary conveniences with separate accommodation
for persons of each sex;
(b) for the provision of adequate and suitable facilities
for washing which shall include hot and
cold water and soap and clean towels or other
suitable means of cleaning and drying;
(c) for the prevention of overcrowding;
(d) for the provision of sufficient and suitable
lighting in every part of the premises in which
persons are working or passing;
(e) for the provision of a standard of reasonable
temperature;
(f) for the provision of effective and suitable
methods of maintaining adequate ventilation;
(g) for the provision of adequate and suitable
accommodation for clothing not worn by employees
during working hours;
(h) for ensuring that all offices shall be kept
clean;
(i) to provide for efficient means of escape in the
event of fire;-
(j) to ensure the provision of adequate supplies of
drinking water;
(k) for the maintenance of adequate and suitable
first-aid equipment;
(l) for the regular inspection and maintenance of
electrical equipment;
(m) to provide for the fencing of dangerous parts of
any machinery or equipment used in offices.
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