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WORKPLACES NOT COVERED BY FACTORIES ACTS:
PROPOSED LEGISLATION re SHOPS, OFFICES, ETC.
Correspondence has recently appeared in the newspapers, drawing
attention to the need to expedite legislation proposed by the Gowers
Committee in connection with the health of office workers.
Some years ago, the Gowers Committee was set up with the following
terms of reference:—
(i) to enquire into the provisions of the Shops Acts relating to
closing hours (general and local) and to report as soon as possible
whether any alterations are desirable.
(ii) to enquire into and make recommendations as to extending,
strengthening or modifying:—
the statutory provisions relating to the health, welfare and
safety of employed persons at places of employment other
than those regulated under the Factories or Mines and
Quarries Act, and
(iii) to enquire into and make recommendations as to the machinery
for enforcing statutory provisions within the scope of (i) and
(ii) above.
An interim report relating to closing hours of shops was submitted
in 1947, followed two years later by a report on Health, Welfare and
Safety in Non-Industrial Employment. This report not only suggested
extending existing controls over shops, but also the inclusion of similar
controls for other non-industrial premises.
The Home Office has recently forwarded draft proposals for legislation
based on the recommendations of the Gowers Committee to organisations
which gave evidence before the committee.
The proposals are that specific provisions should apply initially to
shops, offices, and catering establishments, theatres, cinemas and
music halls, railways and certain transport premises, agriculture and
forestry, and dental mechanics' workrooms. Power to extend the
legislation, by special regulations, to other classes of premises will be
given.
It is proposed to make it the duty of every local authority to enforce
within their districts the provisions of this part of the legislation, and
for this purpose "local authority means . . . (elsewhere than in the
County of London) as respects a borough, urban district or rural
district, the council of the borough or district."
The work of local authority health departments will obviously be
increased. The suggested legislation places a duty upon them to appoint
suitable Shops Act Inspectors, and gives the Secretary of State power
to make regulations prescribing qualifications to be held by inspectors.
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