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
Battersea 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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1ll
In certain of these trades in which female labour is mainly
used, the inspection of the workshops is carried out by a female
sanitary inspector, and during 1937 the number of her inspections
amounted to 132, while those of the male inspector numbered 777.
Fourteen intimation and 8 statutory notices were served for
various defects in workshops found on inspection, all of which were
complied with. Of these, 4 intimation notices were served by the
female inspector.
Sixteen new workshops were added to the register, dealing
with the following trades:—
Baker 1 Motor repairer 4
Bootmaker 1 Tailor 6
Dressmaker 2 Other trades 2
Seven workshops were closed, the total number of workshops
being increased to 222.
The following are particulars relating to workshops in which "protected persons" were employed, notice of which was duly sent to H.M. Inspector:—
| Trade. | No. of Workshops | Protected Persons Employed. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women. | Young Persons. | Total. | ||
| Ornamental sugar | 1 | 4 | — | 4 |
| flowers Dressmaker | 1 | 1 | — | 1 |
| (alterations) Gowns | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Tailor | 2 | 2 | — | 2 |
Outworkers.
During 1937, 115 lists of outworkers were received, viz., 55
from Battersea employers, containing 144 names, and 60 from the
Medical Officers of Health of other districts, containing 248 names.
After eliminating outworkers not residing in Battersea (of
whom 85 names were forwarded to the Medical Officers of the
districts concerned) and duplicated entries there remained the
names and addresses of 144 Battersea outworkers.
The total number of registered outworkers in the Borough is
181, of whom 21 are "contractors," i.e., employers of labour for
the purpose of the home-work received by them, and many of the
premises are workshops in the meaning of the term as used in the
Factory and Workshop Act.