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116
Factories and Homework.
Factories Act, 1937.
This Act, which came into force on 1st July, 1938, repeals
and consolidates existing Factory, &c., Acts, and revises the existing
law in conformity with modern standards and conditions. It also
provides for improved arrangements for the safety, health and
welfare of factory workers. It contains a revised and extended
definition of "factory," which now includes inter alia building operations
and engineering construction works coming within a definition
laid down in the Act, and also laundry and dyers' receiving offices
where sorting of articles is carried out. Distinctions which previously
existed between a factory and a workshop and between
textile and non-textile factories are abolished, only the one term
"factory" being used.
The Metropolitan Borough Councils are, as previously, to
enforce the provisions with regard to sanitary conveniences in all
factories, and in factories where mechanical power is not employed
(i.e., "workshops") they are to enforce the clauses relating to cleanliness,
overcrowding, temperature, ventilation and drainage of floors.
Of these items, temperature is new. The provisions as to overcrowding
are made more stringent, but for a period of five years existing workrooms
are to be subject to the present standard. There is also a
requirement that a supply of drinking water shall be available
for employees in factories.
Orders were made by the Secretary of State on several matters
connected with the Factories Act, the Council being concerned
with four of these, namely: (1) the Local Authorities (Transfer of
Enforcement) Order, 1938, by which in certain special cases local
authorities were relieved of their duties under the Act; (2) the
Factories (Cleanliness of Walls and Ceilings) Order, 1938; (3) the
Home Work Orders Variation Order, 1938; (4) the Sanitary Accommodation
Regulations, 1938, by which the Order of 1903 was
revoked and new standards laid down.