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There were 1,319 new registrations during 1968 and, after allowing for removals and the transfer
of registrations to other authorities, there remained on the register 17,455 premises, employing a
total of 351,943 persons.
During the year, 2,960 general inspections were carried out and 6,821 visits were made.
Contraventions were found in 1,379 premises and, of these, 552 were referred to public health
inspectors for further investigation and any necessary action. There were no prosecutions,
compliance with the Act being secured by informal action.
Notification was received of 495 accidents and investigations revealed four cases where
contraventions of the Act may have been a contributory cause. There were two fatal accidents;
one of these was caused by the after-effects of a fall whilst working at a height of eight feet; the
other, due to carbon monoxide poisoning, appeared to be linked with four deaths from similar
cause occurring in a neighbouring authority's area. A sudden short heat-wave on 30th June and
1st July, 1968 created conditions in which shared flues might prove dangerous and the Coroner,
who conducted all five inquests, drew attention to this hazard which was subsequently given
publicity in the press.
The Offices, Shops and Railway Premises (Hoists and Lifts) Regulations 1968 are intended
to secure the safe operation of lifts and hoists in premises to which the Act applies, and in
anticipation of the operative date (28th May, 1969) advice was given to a number of occupiers
as to the ultimate compliance or otherwise of their equipment with the requirements of the
Regulations.
Statistics, including some contained in the Annual Report to the Department of Employment
and Productivity, will be found in Table 21 on page 88.
Factories
There were 4,639 (4,722) factories on the register at the end of the year. Statistics of matters
dealt with by the Health Department under Parts I and VIII of the Factories Act 1961, are given
in Tables 22 and 23, page 89.
Outworkers
Returns made by 174 (224) employers, together with 168 (170) notifications from other
authorities, accounted for a total of 1,814 (2,247) outworkers. Of these, 794 (956) were residing
in the City of Westminster.
It is of interest to note that the number of persons engaged on out-work is steadily declining.
(Table 24, page 90.)
Basement Bakehouses
The Factories Act 1961, which re-enacted with amendments the Act of 1937, requires that a
"basement bakehouse" shall not be used unless a Certificate of Suitability has been issued by
the Council and that the premises were so used in 1937. There are three basement bakehouses
in Westminster for which Certificates of Suitability are in force.
The next quinquennial review is scheduled for 1969.
Food and Catering Premises—Inspection
The estimated number of food and catering premises in Westminster on the 31 st December, 1968
was 6,824 categorised as shewn in Table 25, page 90.
During the year 10,230 (11,894) visits were made by the Public Health Inspectors and 352
(550) informal notices were served in respect of matters requiring attention.
During the year some 576 complaints were received concerning general food matters, conditions
of premises, noise, smells, dirty crockery, matters relating to staff, etc. Appropriate action was
taken in each instance.
Catering Premises—General Matters
The wide variety of catering carried on from premises in Westminster and the large number of establishments
involved has resulted in the Inspectors engaged on this work being under considerable
pressure throughout the year. There can be few local authority areas where such a concentration
of premises dealing in foodstuffs occurs as it does in some parts of Westminster. The influx of
foreign nationals, who now operate many of these premises, has resulted in foods being available
in varieties which cater for almost every cosmopolitan taste.