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scientific means of making the installation of complicated equipment and machinery unnecessary,
and also to provide an authoritative evaluation of existing schemes which purport to do this.
During the year an investigation at a restaurant disclosed serious infestation by black rats. Sacks
of rice, bay leaves and flour were found to be heavily contaminated and the situation was such that
legal proceedings were instituted, resulting in fines of £100 with £10. 10s. Od. costs being imposed.
Arising from this investigation, seventeen other premises in the immediate vicinity were found to
be infested, though not to the same serious degree. The inspector concerned obtained the cooperation
of all the pest control contractors engaged in disinfestation work by the firms in question
and made known to them the extent of the baiting and work required to rat-proof the individual
premises. Some months elapsed before the situation was brought under control but further
inspections since intensive treatment has been undertaken showed the position to be satisfactory.
This illustrates that constant vigilance is necessary where there are old premises dealing in comestibles,
and especially where there are other similar establishments close nearby. When signs of
infestation occur immediate and effective steps must be taken otherwise it requires only a short time
for the situation to get out of hand.
Utensils used in catering premises, particularly those intended for the service of food, give rise
to complaint, usually of crockery being chipped or cracked, or crockery and cutlery not being in all
respects clean or having been improperly dried. Most instances are due to the carelessness of the
employees, and reflect unfavourably on the supervising staff. Sometimes the fault is due to the
water in a washing-up machine not being kept sufficiently hot with a result that food residues on
the crockery or cutlery are not dislodged in the washing process and are retained even after rinsing.
In one investigation one quarter of all cups, one third of the saucers and all the glasses at the
servery were wet and dirty. Fortunately this is not representative but further surveys are to be
undertaken to obtain information on a wider basis.
In connection with the deficiencies referred to above, it is sometimes found that the lighting
available in the place where washing-up operations are performed is of a low standard, and this
undoubtedly has some bearing on the poor performance of the staff who are engaged in this duty.
The Offices, Shops & Railway Premises Act 1963, requires that "effective provision shall be
made for securing and maintaining in every part of the premises to which the Act applies, in which
persons are working and passing, sufficient and suitable lighting, whether natural or artificial". No
Regulations have been issued as to what constitutes sufficient and suitable lighting although the
Department of Employment and Productivity has issued a circular recommending certain standards.
When making light readings these should be taken at 2 ft. 9 ins. above floor level or at the normal
working level. The standards are given in terms of "Minimum values (lumens per sq. ft.)" and the
"Recommended values of the Illuminating Engineering Society (lumens per sq. ft.)". A survey was
made during the year of the lighting provided in the food preparation area, cooking area and wash-up
area at 82 catering premises, and the results were as follows:—
Area
Number of the 82 premises surveyed with:—
Below minimum
recommended values
of 20 lumens
per sq. ft.
Minimum
recommended values
of 20 lumens
per sq. ft.
I.E.S.
recommended values
of 55.7 lumens
per sq. ft.
Food preparation area
Cooking area
Wash-up area
55 (67%)
56 (68%)
59 (72%)
27 (33%)
26 (32%)
23 (28%)
nil
nil
nil
In 29 per cent. of the total inspections the standard was below 10 lumens per sq. ft. and it
appears that a marked improvement is necessary if this study is representative of the conditions
generally prevailing.
The Food Hygiene (General) Regulations 1960 require "Now Wash your Hands" notices to be
exhibited in a prominent position, requesting persons to wash their hands after using the sanitary
convenience. It is to be hoped this essential part of personal hygiene is strictly observed. Certainly