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45
OFFICES, SHOPS AND RAILWAY PREMISES ACT, 1963
The Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act, 1963, makes provision
for the safety, health and welfare of persons employed in shops, offices and
railway premises. The requirements of the Act follow closely those of the
Factories Act and include provisions relating to cleanliness, overcrowding,
temperature, ventilation, lighting, sanitary conveniences, washing facilities,
drinking water, seats, safety of machinery, first aid and fire precautions.
Enforcement of the provisions of the Act is divided among a number
of authorities. In most premises covered by the Act, its general requirements
are enforced by local authorities who were already responsible for inspecting
many such premises under other legislation dealing with public health and
shop closing hours, H.M. Inspectors of Factories enforce the general
provisions of the Act in certain premises which are associated with, or
broadly similar in their conditions to, factories, i.e., railway premises,
fuel storage depots and offices in factories. They are also responsible for
inspecting premises owned or occupied by the Crown and those occupied by
local authorities,,
Provisions relating to fire precautions are the responsibility of
the Fire Authority, i.e., with regard to this borough's area, the London
County Council,
In Kensington, inspections are carried out by the Public Health
Department, and a full-time public health inspector was appointed for this
purpose on 1st July, 1964, He has been assisted, for the time being on a
part-time basis, by a member of the Department's technical staff. Clerical
assistance, also on a part-time basis, has been undertaken by a clerk who is
also responsible for other aspects of environmental health. Inspections of
shops and catering premises have been carried out, in the main, by district
public health inspectors who are also responsible for the enforcement of
additional legislation such as the Food Hygiene Regulations.