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54
WORKSHOP SUPERVISION.
Smoke Prevention.—Observations were taken of the smoke emitted from the shafts and
chimneys connected with the following premises :—
St. Mary's Hospital. 90, Harrow Road.
189, Edgware Road. 24 & 26, Queen's Road.
257, „ 195, Shirland Road.
259, „ 27, South Wharf Road.
265,
The observations numbered 73, extending over 38½ hours in all, smoke being visible
for 19. No legal proceedings were required, but one notice under Sec. 24 of the Public
Health (London) Act, 1891, was issued.
Canal Boats Acts.—The Annual Report for 1903 of the Examining Officer was submitted
to the Council on 2nd February last, and subsequently forwarded to the Local
Government Board. The year was quite uneventful. Only one case of infectious illness
(diphtheria) occurred on board the boats, while 3 deaths were registered of persons connected
with the boats. All the deaths occurred on land. The causes of death were "heart disease"
(f. aet. 51), "chronic bronchitis" (m. let. 84), and "malignant disease" (m. aet. 64.).
Canals.—The " Cut " (Paddington Basin) was emptied at Easter, and about 500 tons
of mud were removed. There was an ample supply of water throughout the year, and no
complaint was received of effluvia from the canals or Basin.
Wharves.—These have been systematically visited by the Inspector, and periodically by
the Medical Officer of Health. No complaints were received during the year, but large
numbers of flies have been observed in one part of Harrow Road from a manure wharf
abutting on the roadway. That wharf is really too near inhabited premises.
The Willesden Urban District Council has acquired " Fermoy Wharf," which is to be
used for loading refuse, chiefly household, direct into barges. The wharf is situated between
the canal and the Harrow Road (Moberley) Board School. A Local Government Board
Inquiry was held in February of last year with reference to the Council's application for
sanction to raise a loan to purchase the Wharf. The Town Clerk and the Medical Officer
of Health of the Borough appeared in opposition and urged (inter alia) that the Wharf was
situated so close to the School that danger to the health of the scholars might be reasonably
feared. The Board, however, sanctioned the loan.
Workshop Supervision.
By Sec. 132 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, the medical officer of health of
every district is required to "report specifically on the administration" of the Act in the
workshops, and workplaces in his district. Domestic workshops and factories are here
referred to as "workshops," while the term "workplace" is so wide as to include every place
where people meet to earn their livelihood.
The matters which are dealt with in workshop supervision under the Factory and
Workshop Act are :—
Cleanliness, including freedom from offensive effluvia ;
Cubic space, including overcrowding ;
Ventilation, both as to sufficiency and maintenance in good order; and
Wetness of floors, principally in laundries.
The provision of sufficient and suitable closet accommodation is secured under the Public
Health (London) Act, 1891.