View report page

19
The Factory and Workshop Act, 1891.
242 Workshops have been registered by your Authority since January, 1892,
when the Act first came into operation.
Of this number 78 have been added during the past year. In many of these
cases, I am glad to say, that registration has led to either the abatement or the removal
of nuisances such as filth, overcrowding, and bad ventilation.
Special attention has been given to the water-closets, both as to sufficiency and
to a separate accommodation for the sexes. The late Home Secretary's Order, under
Section 27 (1) of the Act, first took effect on the 20th November, 1892. It was
made in the interests of the public and of those employed in " domestic workshops."
The Order remains only partly enforced in this parish, and will continue so unless
some means be devised to lighten the more pressing duties of the Sanitary Inspectors.
In my Reports for 1893 and 1894, I said that, in my opinion, a special inspector
would be required to carry the Order out thoroughly in your district.
This view of the question I would respectfully urge upon the attention of your
Vestry.
The Factory and Workshop Act, 1895.
This important measure introduced by the late Home Secretary, Mr. Asquith,
comes into force on the 1st day of January, 1896.
It forms a considerable advance on previous legislation both in raising the
standard of industrial environment, and in giving increased powers to the Authorities.
The chief points may be briefly touched upon. First and foremost, it provides
that a factory or workshop shall be deemed overcrowded if there be less than 250 feet
of cubic space to each person during the hours of work, and of 400 cubic feet during
overtime.
It authorises a magistrate, on complaint of an Inspector, and being satisfied that
a factory or workshop is in a dangerous or injurious condition, to prohibit the place
from being used until such works as are necessary to remove the danger have been
executed. Adequate penalties are provided against the employment of persons in
work injurious to health, or for allowing wearing apparel to be made up, cleaned, or
repaired in places where there is scarlet fever or small-pox. It also directs that a
full notification and register of deaths from accident be kept by owners or occupiers,
and that the Factory Inspector attend the subsequent inquest, while the Home
Secretary is furnished with powers for additional investigation if he deem fit.
A number of fresh Regulations have been passed with regard to laundries, which
are now, for the first time, brought under the control of the Inspectors.
Numerous provisions have been made with a view to enforcing the duties of
employers in the observance of sanitation, of the fencing of machines, of the affixing
of notices, and of the general carrying out of their responsibilities under the Act. It
is worthy of special note, that in the case of tenement factories the owner is made
responsible in place of the occupier.
Sewage Flooded Basements in Southwark.
The question of basement floodings in various low-lying parts of the metropolis
has been for some years past under the notice of the London County Council.
The Main Drainage Committee of that body, appointed to investigate and report,
made the following proposals :—
Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health—1895.