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Of the remainder, five complaints related to chimes of ice cream vans (Section 2), four related to
statutory undertakers, thereby exempt from the Noise Abatement Act, leaving forty-three to be dealt with
under Section 1 of the Act of which two were repeat complaints.

The most common activities complained of concerned noisy machinery, demolition or construction
sites, ventilation or refrigeration plants and domestic sewing machines. In many cases Inspectors were able
to give technical advice which resulted in investigating nuisances informally. One complaint which occupied
a considerable amount of Inspector's time was in respect of nuisance of noise from the construction of a
hotel immediately abutting on to existing occupied dwellings. Because of the tight schedule, work was
carried on until a late hour at night as well as on Saturdays and Sundays. An abatement notice was served
and discussions subsequently held with the management of the building firm which finally resulted in
agreement as to working times and the elimination of construction work on Sundays. This example
emphasises the need for continual liaison between Health and Planning Departments.
OFFICES AND SHOPS
The Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963 and associated Regulations, protect the safety,
health and welfare of employees in certain classified premises. The number of persons employed in premises
within the Borough to which the Act applies is approximately 59,000, about the same as last year.
The number of wholesale shops, warehouses and catering establishments is similar to that recorded
for 1970. This is the first year the number has remained static since 1967, when all classified premises in the
Borough became registered under the Act; previous years have shown a decrease in these types of premises.
The number of retail shops, however, decreased as it has done each year since 1967.
ACCIDENTS AT WORK
Comment was made in my previous report on the intention to foster 'accident prevention at work'.
158 accidents were notified as compared with 116 in 1970 - an increase of 26.5%. This, no doubt, was
largely due to the publicity given to the requirements of the Act that employers should notify accidents to
the Council and in that respect is gratifying. 100 of the notified accidents were investigated - this involved
a visit to the premises on which the accident occurred and where necessary suitable advice was given to the
employer to prevent a recurrence in similar circumstances. A follow-up visit was made where this was thought
necessary. Whilst the Act makes provision for the prosecution of an employer who fails to take reasonable
steps to safeguard his employees against accidents, in no case was it found necessary to prosecute.
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