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32
OIL HEATERS - DANGER TO CHILDREN
The Council at its meeting on l8th November, considered an
extract from the minutes of the meeting of the Metropolitan Boroughs'
Standing Joint Committee on 12th October, referring to the launching
by the Health Committee of the London County Council of an autumn
campaign to alert the public to the danger to children from the use or
misuse of oil heaters, The County Council were arranging for 450,000
copies of a specially designed leaflet to be printed and distributed
to tenants on its housing estates, the County Council bearing the cost
of printing and arranging delivery of the required quantities to a
central address,
The Council agreed that it would support such a campaign and
would arrange for the distribution of leaflets not only at its housing
estates but also in the Town Hall, Public Library and other public
buildings,
Arrangements were therefore made for the distribution of the
leaflets at the Council's housing estates and other dwellings during
the fortnight commencing 13th December, distribution being carried out
entirely by the housing estates porters and the staff of the Public
Health Department, Three small displays were sited in the Public
Library and the main entrances of the Town Hall and Chenil Galleries,
In addition, posters and leaflets were displayed at the Old People's
Clubs, and the local voluntary organisations co-operated by displaying
posters and issuing leaflets,
As an additional measure, all local traders retailing paraffin
were approached, and they agreed to co-operate by issuing to every
customer a copy of the County Council's leaflet, together with a copy
of a further leaflet supplied free by the Oil Appliance Manufacturers'
Association giving simple instructions on the use of oil heaters,
SANITARY ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOROUGH
The following section of the Report (pages 32 to 65 ) is
devoted to the work of the Public Health Inspectors together with
other associated officers, The Borough is divided into five areas,
each being the responsibility of one Inspector, In addition, one
Public Health Inspector was engaged on duties concerned with the
establishment of small control areas under the provisions of the
Clean Air Act, 1956, The woman Inspector dealt with the inspection
of premises under the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act, 1963,
the supervision of food premises including food shops, stalls, etc,,
and also undertook the sampling of articles of food,
The majority of the work of the Inspectors was carried out
without recourse to statutory measures, and although 690 complaints
were brought to the attention of the Public Health Department and
some 18,517 inspections and re-visits made to all types of premises,
it was only necessary to institute legal proceedings in two cases
which concerned the sale of foods unfit for human consumption,