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FACTORIES
Section 7 of the Factories Act, 1961, requiring the provision of sufficient and suitable
sanitary conveniences is enforced by the council in all factories, whether mechanical
power is used in the factory or not. The provisions of sections, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 relating
to cleanliness, overcrowding, the maintenance of a reasonable temperature, the
securing of adequate ventilation of workrooms and the furnishing of adequate
means for draining floors where wet processes are carried on, are enforced by the
council in factories in which mechanical power is not used. The provisions of section 7
are also applied to certain building operations and works of engineering construction,
etc.
A local authority is required to keep a register of factories where it is responsible
for the enforcement of any of the provisions mentioned above. Close co-operation is
maintained with H.M. Inspectors of Factories so that any faults found by them during
the course of their visits and for which it is the duty of the local authority to take
action, are notified to the Health Department. Similarly the public health inspectors
notify H.M. Inspectors. H.M. Inspectors also forward to the Health Department
details of new factories, the introduction of mechanical power or other information
which may assist the local authority.
Special attention is paid to factory canteens. These are visited by the Council's food
inspectors and opportunity is taken to discuss with staff the need to maintain a good
standard of food hygiene.
The Medical Officer of Health is required to report on the administration of part I
(factories) and part VIII (outworkers) which are administered by the local authority.