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NOTE.—The figures for fresh milk supplied by the Guardians after recommendation by the Milk Sub-Committee cannot be given
separately.
FACTORIES AND WORKSHOPS.
Section 13'2 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, requires the Medical Officer of Health of
every District Council to report specifically on the workshops and workplaces in his district, and
to send a copy of his annual report to the Secretary of State. The total number of workshops on
the Council's register is 1,412. Workshops where men only are employed are placed under the
supervision of the Sanitary Inspector in whose district they are situated; workshops where women
are employed are inspected by the Women Health Officers, who also visit the premises of
home-workers and inspect the sanitary conveniences reserved for women in railway stations and
other public places in Kensington. The factories in the Borough number 280, and are inspected
and regulated by H.M. Inspectors under the Home Office. The Sanitary Inspectors of the
Borough Council are, however, required to ensure the provision of suitable and sufficient sanitary
conveniences in factories as well as in workshops.
The Ministry of Health (Factories and Workshops) Order, 1921, transfers, from the Secretary
of State to the Minister of Health, the powers and duties under Sections 61, 97, 98, 99, 100, 109
and 110 of the Factory and Workshops Act, 1901.
Section 61 provides that the occupier of a factory or workshop shall not knowingly allow a
woman or girl to be employed therein within four weeks after she has given birth to a child.
This Section is extended to larndries by Section 103 of the Act.
In his circular letter No. 235, the Minister of Health has expressed the hope that the Council
will assist occupiers of factories, workshops and laundries in observing the provisions of this
Section, so far as they are in a position to do so.
Sections 97 and 98 lay down regulations regarding sanitary conditions in bakehouses and
provide for penalties in the case of a bakehouse unfit for use as such ; Section 99 provides for the
periodical cleansing of the walls and ceilings of bakehouses; Section 100 restricts the use as
sleeping places of rooms adjoining bakehouses. Under Section 102 of the Act, the Sanitary
Inspectors have, for many years, carried out, as regards retail bakehouses, the duties imposed
under these four Sections, but, with regard to factory bakehouses, although the Council's officers
have made inspections from time to time, any prosecutions which may have been found necessary have
hitherto been undertaken by the Factory Inspector. In accordance, however, with the suggestion
contained in the circular letter above mentioned, the Council have directed that those duties
of their officers in the Public Health Department hitherto performed only in respect of retail
bakehouses shall be extended to all bakehouses in the Borough.
Sections 109 and 110 provide for the supervision of home work in houses where there is
notifiable infectious disease. Officers in the Public Health Department have enforced these two
Sections for many years past and the powers and duties of the Council are not affected by the
transfer to the Minister of jurisdiction in regard to these Sections.
MEN'S WORKSHOPS.
At the end of the year, the registered workshops at which men alone were employed numbered
941. The factories at which men alone were employed numbered 216. It should be noted that
by Section 157, the provisions of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, relating to temperature,
drainage of floors, the exhibition of abstracts and certain other matters do not apply to workshops
conducted on the system of not employing children, young persons or women. In London, both in
factories and workshops, the provision of sanitary conveniences is regulated by Section 38 of the
Public Health (London) Act, 1891, the standard adopted being that required by the Sanitary
Accommodation Order of 4th February, 1903. The following table shows the various trades and
occupations carried on in registered workshops and factories where men alone are employed:—