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OFFICES, SHOPS AND RAILWAY PREMISES ACT, 1963
Of the items requiring attention, the most frequently recurring were the following:—

Although these numbers are a little lower than last year, it is surprising to find
that they are still higher than was hoped. In order to overcome the first item, stocks of
booklet 9b have been kept in the department to assist shopkeepers who have found
difficulty in obtaining them for themselves. Of the other two items, the renewal of
supplies in the first-aid box is often forgotten and the importance of one member
of the staff being made responsible for the care of the box cannot be over emphasised.
The thermometer seems to be a fragile item and its replacement after breakage is
often overlooked.
Other matters to which it was necessary to draw attention were:—

Reinspections were made to ascertain whether these matters had been put right,
and where this was not so further action was taken to enforce compliance.
The number of registered premises in 1969 showed a decrease of 402, whilst the
number newly registered during the year increased by 45. The number of staff
employed decreased from 17,521 to 15,223 (males 6,299 compared with 7,582 in
1968, and females 8,924 compared with 9,939).
There were fewer accidents reported in 1969 (63 compared with 91) and most were
fortunately of a minor character. Thirty-seven of the accidents were fully investigated
and suggestions were made to avoid a further similar accident.
Although it has been necessary to draw attention to a large number of items
requiring attention, the conditions in shop and office premises undoubtedly continue
to improve and it is hoped that this will be maintained in 1970.
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