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80
Health (General Provisions).
A new provision is that relating to the temperature of every
workroom. The Borough Council will be responsible for seeing
that a reasonable temperature is maintained in each workroom of a
factory in which mechanical power is not used. A thermometer
must be provided in every workroom in which a substantial portion
of the work is done sitting and does not involve serious physical
effort. Similarly they will have the duty of enforcing the provisions
as to cleanliness, overcrowding, ventilation and drainage of floors in
factories where mechanical power is not used. This will mean the
inclusion of certain premises which under the old Act were " factories
" and for which provisions the Local Authority were not
formerly responsible.
Special functions of Medical Officer of Health.
The Medical Officer of Health is to have the following administrative
powers:—
1. To approve alternative methods of cleaning walls.
2. To decide whether, or not, the exemption clause as to cleaning
of the walls of any factory where less than 10 persons are
employed, shall be applied or not.
3. To grant certificates of exemption from Section 2 (2)
(Overcrowding provisions) workrooms in which explosive
materials are manufactured or handled.
4. To require mechanical ventilation in the case of an existing
workroom which will be "overcrowded" according to the
new standards.
5. To allow the notice under Section 2 (6) (viz., as to the number
of persons who may be employed in a workroom) to be
dispensed with.
Sanitary Conveniences.
Under the new Act effective provision must be made for lighting
the conveniences.
The provisions as to sanitary conveniences are applied to certain
building operations and works of engineering construction.
Cleanliness.
New provisions have been made to secure higher standards by
the adoption of more methodical arrangements for cleaning, viz.,