London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Kensington and Chelsea 1969
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington & Chelsea Borough]
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Comparison of Causes of Accidents
| Primary Cause | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RBK & C | England | RBK & C | England | RBK & C | |
| Machinery | 4.85 | 4.90 | 7.00 | 5.1 | 5.8 |
| Transport | 4.24 | 4.00 | 5.80 | 4.6 | 1.6 |
| Falls of persons | 23.60 | 38.7 | 30.20 | 36.9 | 28.3 |
| Fires & Explosions | 1.20 | 0.60 | 1.20 | 0.7 | - |
| Electricity | - | 0.40 | - | 0.30 | 0.83 |
| Use of hand tools | 10.80 | 6.10 | 7.00 | 5.6 | 5.80 |
| Stepping on or striking against an object or person | 12.10 | 10.10 | 16.30 | 9.5 | 14.10 |
| Handling goods | 36.3 | 21.10 | 26.20 | 22.8 | 35.00 |
| Struck by falling object | 1.80 | 5.80 | 4.00 | 5.90 | 5.80 |
| Not otherwise specified | 4.85 | 8.40 | 2.30 | 8.50 | 5.00 |
OFFICES. SHOPS AMD RAILWAY PREMISES (HOISTS AND LIFTS) REGULATIONS. 1968
These Regulations, which came into force on 28th May, 1969, impose
requirements as to the construction, maintenance and examination of hoists
and lifts in offices, shops and catering establishments which are
registrable under the Act of 1963. Every lifts must be examined by a
competent person every six months (under six months in the case of a
continuous lift and a lift not connected with mechanical power), The
competent person is usually an engineer employed by or on behalf of an
insurance company. If the lift cannot be used with safety, a copy of the
engineer's report is sent to the authority responsible for enforcing the
Regulations. During the six months of operation of the Regulation, twentynine
such reports were received.
Lifts in registrable premises within the Borough were listed during
1968, and it was found that many proprietors of restaurants were unaware
of their obligations under the Regulations.
The half-yearly inspection of a lift by a competent person does not
relieve the Council's inspectors of duties relating to the matter of safety
and the enclosing cf lifts which are absolute requirements of the principal Act,
and the Regulations, and it is expected that in the final few years of the
operation of the Regulations that inspectors will have to make many
recommendations in connection with these matters.
LAND CHARGES
The number of land charge enquiries dealt with during the year was
6,081 compared with 5,719 in 1968. These concerned outstanding statutory
or informal notices, closing orders, smoke control orders, certificates of
disrepair, slum clearance, etc.