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Public Health (London) Act, 1936, which relates to sanitary conveniences
for factories, Section 120 which relates to nuisances and Section
129 which relates to the lime washing and washing of certain factories,
workshops and workplaces no longer apply to any factory to which
the new Act applies.
Requirements are enforceable by the Borough Council in factories
in which mechanical power is not used, relating to (i) Cleanliness; (ii)
Overcrowding, which is deemed to exist, subject to certain provisos, if
the number of persons employed is such that the amount of cubic space
allowed for every person employed in the work-room is less than 400
cubic feet (a Notice must be exhibited in every workroom specifying
the number of persons who may be employed therein); (iii) Temperature
and (iv) Ventilation (effective and suitable provision must be
made for securing and maintaining a reasonable temperature in every
workroom and for adequate ventilation), (v) Drainage of floors—where
any process is carried on which renders the floor liable to be wet to
such an extent that the wet is capable of being removed by drainage,
effective means are required to be provided and maintained for draining
off the wet. Requirements relating to Sanitary Conveniences are
enforceable by the Rorough Council in all factories, whether mechanical
power is used or not; and, where persons of both sexes are employed,
separate accommodation must be provided for persons of each sex.
Bakehouses.—The Act repeats previous sanitary regulations and
requirements relating to these premises. 500 cubic feet per person are
still required for underground bakehouses and 400 cubic feet per
person between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. for other bakehouses where work is
carried on at night by artificial light other than electric light. The
Act contains new and important clauses relating to Underground
Bakehouses. Tt is illegal to use any such premises unless it was used
at the date of the passing of the Act, and unless a certificate of suitability
had been issued by the Borough Council in respect thereof.
Any basement bakehouse which, for a period exceeding one year, is
not used as a bakehouse may not be so used again. The Council is
required to examine every basement bakehouse and if they are not
satisfied as to its suitability it may not be used as such. This special
examination of basement bakehouses, which is distinct from routine
inspections, is required to be carried out every fifth year. The survey
is referred to in Section 6 of this Report,