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unsatisfactory metal pourers were found and all were replaced by
plastic ones.
The General Division again carried on its usual day-to-day task
of dealing with routine complaints. It is interesting to note that,
whilst the nature of the complaints over the last few years has
gradually changed, the number, i.e. between 7,000 and 8,000, has
never varied over the last decade. There is no doubt that this
Division is the heart of the Environmental Health Section, and when
one considers that originally public health inspectors were called
"nuisance inspectors", one can see how the importance of these
particular responsibilities has remained undiminished for well over
a century.
Within the General Division is the drainage section and, during
the past year, one very special item of note has been the supervision
of the laying of all sewers and drainage for the new Covent
Garden Market Development at Nine Elms. This is a £35 million
development, entailing the laying of some 5-6 miles of pipe in
diameter sizes varying from four to 42 inches, every joint of which
had to be tested (see Plate A—centre pages); in addition, the construction
of over 500 interceptor and inspection chambers had
also to be supervised and tested. Another photograph (Plate B—
centre pages) shows a 30-inch and a 24-inch polypropylene interceptor
trap, both of which were installed in the Administration
Block. Stoneware traps of this size were unobtainable and these
had to be specially manufactured—they have a glass fibre backing
to afford strength with a polypropylene skin.
We must not forget the work done by the manual workers of
the department—the Pest Control Officer and his staff, the disinfectors
and the cleansing station and mortuary staff. During the
year under review, a work study programme was carried out on
these services and, following this, the pest control staff and the
disinfecting and cleansing staff were reorganised into a more
mobile and efficient service. Tribute must be paid to these members
of the staff for the way in which they carried out their duties.
The spirit of the Department can usually be judged by the
amount of time given voluntarily by the staff outside of normal
working hours. In this connection, it is very pleasing to say that
inspectors again gave many hours of their free time to lectures
and informal talks to various local groups such as scouts, guides,
schoolchildren and the staffs of hospitals and multiple stores.
Statistically, the year has shown an increase in nearly all
aspects of the work of the Department. The enthusiasm of the
staff, not least among the younger inspectors, and the appreciation
that this arouses is well illustrated by the following extract from
a letter received from a complainant:—
" Please accept my grateful and sincere thanks for all you have
done on my behalf. It is indeed refreshing in this day and age to
know that some people really care about others and the position
they hold."