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Up to and including the 31st December 1965, occupiers of 2921 premises had
registered with the local authority as required under the provisions of the Act.
In the same period, 2303 premises have received a general inspection.
In the current year 4084 visits including 955 general inspections have been made
and as a result, 897 letters were sent to owners and occupiers, detailing the 2,877
deficiencies found at the premises.
Table "G" details the deficiencies found related to the type of premises registered
and inspected.
Revisits showed that 2,054 deficiencies had been remedied during the current year.
As from January 1st, 1966 nearly all the requirements of the Act and the
Regulations made thereunder are in force. Up to this date premises could only be brought
up to the proposed standards by co-operation and persuasion. Though the greater proportion
of owners and occupiers have been co-operative it may be necessary in ensuing years for
some recalcitrant owners and occupiers to have proceedings instituted against them.
Comments on enforcement of the Act
Cleanliness In general the standard of cleanliness in premises was found to be good,
particularly in office premises.
The places most frequently neglected were the sanitary accommodation, staircases and
passages.
Overcrowding The statutory requirements for existing premises become operative on
1.8.67; the standards apply immediately to new businesses.
There have been several instances of overcrowding in offices despite the minimal
standards prescribed by the Act.
The commonest place to be overcrowded is the room occupied by the telephone switchboard
operators. These rooms are usually only cubicles designed to secure minimal
disturbance to the operator and as a result are usually badly ventilated as well as below
the required space standard.
The specific standards only apply for persons who are Tiabitually employed' in the
rooms. There are many offices where employees are away from their offices for the greater
part of the working day, yet for 2-3 hours per day the offices may be occupied well in
excess of the minimal prescribed standards. The only remedy would be to say that the
premises must not be 'so overcrowded as to cause risk of injury to health' . Experience
under other Public Health legislation has shown that this would be difficult to prove in
the Courts.
Temperature One of the commonest failures of occupiers is the provision and conspicuous
display of thermometers at their premises.
Particular objection is made when thermostatically controlled central heating systems
are provided.
Some occupiers in large office blocks object to displaying thermometers when the
heating system is under the exclusive control of the owners of the property.
In general, offices were found to be adequately heated. Shops, however, are often
inadequately heated and several occupiers have stated their opinion that the prescribed
temperature of 16°C cannot be maintained.
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