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57
Offensive Trades.
As regards offensive trades, there are two in the Borough, viz.:—
Hill & Son, Ltd., Frankham Street
The business carried on at these premises is fat melting and soap
and glycerine making. The material received into these works consists
of scraps of refuse from hotel and restaurant kitchens, scraps from meat
markets, condemned meat, potato crackling (from fish restaurants) and
residue from fish fryers. On arrival, these materials are packed into
skips and are next put into the closed chamber for treatment. This
process of treatment or rendering consists in packing the raw material
into closed boilers, where it is operated upon by live steam. The
liquid fat pours off into casks and is taken away to go through further
processes connected with soap or glycerine making. The residue from
the boilers is ground up and is sold for animal feeding. The steam and
vapours from the boilers pass through a condensing plant and then are
passed over fires, finally discharging through a shaft 90 feet high. The
offensive processes of this business are carried out in a well-constructed
closed chamber, air being forced in by fans, and every precaution is
taken to prevent any effluvium escaping. There are 16 male employees
for whom 1 w.c. is provided. There is no facility for washing.
Wheen & Son, Copperas Street.
This firm also is engaged in soap boiling and glycerine making.
25 women and 80 men are employed, for whom there are 2 and 5 w.c.'s
respectively, on the trough principle. The men also have 1 urinal.
The material used is the same as at Messrs. Hills, described above.
The melting process is carried out in steam-heated coppers in closed
chambers, and the fat is drawn off and run into vats to be used for
soap making. Part of the fat extract is taken through a further
process of boiling and refining, and is then mixed with solutions of
soda, potash, etc., according to the variety or quality of the soap, and
finally is run out into large moulds to solidify. Thereafter it is made
into cakes, bars or flakes as required. The residue from the boilers is
passed through the presses where large slabs are made called "Graves,"
these are sent away for the manufacture of artificial manure. The
closed chamber is ventilated by means of a duct passing above the
coppers (fresh air enters the chamber through grids at the foot of
the wall). The steam, effluvium and expired air pass along the duct
and are then discharged over boiler fires through the boiler shaft into
the sopen air.