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unloading may exceed 20 minutes and the Road Traffic Act is contravened; and the stacking
of goods on the footway is forbidden by the Highways Acts 1959 and 1965 which is enforced
by the Borough Engineer and Surveyor.
Altogether, it is difficult for occupiers to comply with Section 16 in some parts of
the Borough, though much improvement is achieved by advice on replanning the storing and
loading of goods
A list of premises in the Borough subject to the Hoists and Lifts Regulations 1968
is being compiled. When premises are added to the list, occupiers are sent a letter
outlining the purpose of the Regulations, and requesting them to make suitable arrangements
for regular inspection after the commencement date.
During August and September letters were sent to all occupiers of registered
premises pointing out their responsibilities under Section 48 of the Act relating to
accidents. As a result of this letter, many telephone enquiries were received which
clearly indicated that many employers were ignorant of these provisions, and consequently
the number of accidents reported during the second half of the year rose by nearly 100%
over those reported during the first six months, so that by the end of the year 63
accidents were reported, as against 45 in 1967.
The response to the letter was therefore encouraging, and, in future, a copy will be
sent to each new occupier as his registration is received.
There was one fatal accident reported during the year.
Poultry Inspection
The majority of birds slaughtered are for the Jewish trade and all birds are
inspected by the officers of the Beth Din at the time of slaughter. Prior to this they are
culled out at the farms and a further live inspection takes place before slaughter
birds which are not considered top quality being returned or sold elsewhere alive. This
is done to ensure that the number of birds rejected ritually is kept to an absolute
minimum. Of the birds that are rejected a very small percentage are unfit, the main
reason for rejection being bruising, damaged legs, wings and breasts. It is estimated that
1,838,500 birds are slaughtered for the Kosher trade in borough poultry slaughterhouses.
About 170,000 birds are slaughtered annually for the Muslim trade. The pattern of
business is unique inasmuch as the customer picks and buys a live bird, it is slaughtered
for him, and if he so desires it is plucked, eviscerated and chopped. This method of
trading makes inspection a practical impossibility. The slaughter-houses are visited
regularly to see that proper standards of hygiene are maintained.
Health Education
Requests for assistance in this field remain popular. Senior Girls' Schools, a
Mothers' Club and many overseas students were given instruction which included practical
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