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St. Pancras.—The medical officer of health reported to the vestry during the year on the duties
and powers under the various Factory Acts, including that passed in 1895, and explained that the work
of the health department would be greatly increased by the recent legislation. A male and a female
sanitary inspector were appointed during 1895, specially authorised to inspect workshops, the latter
attending to the duties relating to laundries and workshops where women and young persons were
employed. Registers of all workplaces are being compiled.
Islington.—Two inspectors of workshops, one male and one female, were appointed during the
year, and they have already effected much good in the district. They have inspected 3,094 workrooms,
including 693 laundries and 371 dressmakers'workrooms, many of which were overcrowded. In 21
workrooms the ventilation was deficient, and in 90 instances they were dirty. Workplaces, numbering
208, were discovered which were not on the register.
Hackney.—The number of workshops inspected was 170, of these 96 were found to be in an
insanitary condition. At the end of the year the nuisances in 79 of the workshops were abated, and
the necessary works in the other places were in progress.
St. Giles.—Where necessary, cleansing and sanitary orders were made upon the owners of
workshops for ensuring the health of the workpeople.
St. Martin-in-the-Fields.—" Laundries have been inspected, also workshops, where known to
exist."
Strand.—The medical officer of health reports that great good has resulted from the visits of
the special inspector, 496 workplaces have been inspected, and orders requiring cleansing have been
served in reference to 225, the ventilation in six has been improved, and overcrowding in three has
been abated. Laundries have also been frequently visited. With regard to outworkers a list of 269
persons employed in the district has been prepared, most of them being engaged in making wearing
apparel. Their homes and workplaces have been frequently visited, and where necessary the rooms
ordered to be cleansed.
City.—The factory inspectors sent 93 communications to the medical officer of health relating
to 43 cases of insanitary condition, 41 cases of change of premises, and nine cases of notice given by
firms about to occupy premises for manufacturing purposes.
Shoreditch.—Notices were received from the factory inspectors concerning insanitary conditions
in 39 workshops and factories, in every case notices were served by the vestry's inspectors, and the
nuisances abated ; they related mostly to overcrowding, dirt, want of water-closet accommodation and
bad smells.
Whitechapel.—During the year 66 workshops were cleansed, in 90 the ventilation was
improved, in 22 overcrowding was abated, 30 were closed, and in 60 additional water-closet accommodation
was provided. Proceedings were successfully undertaken in 17 cases.
St. George-in-the-East.—The number of workshops inspected was 237, of which 45 were cleansed
and repaired, and in 42 cases overcrowding was remedied.
Limehouse.— There were 211 "factory" inspections made during the year, and 27 " factory "
nuisances abated.
Mile-end Old-town.—The number of workshops in the district has increased by about 60 during
the last two years ; there are now 280 on the register exclusive of laundries, these have been inspected
and re-inspected during the year, 48 were cleansed and 96 measured; in 10 overcrowding was abated,
and 265 notices were sent as to the numbers allowed in the workshops. The trade most frequently
carried on in workrooms is tailoring; but the boot and slipper trade is increasing, the employer and
employees in nine-tenths of the cases being aliens.
Poplcvr (Bow and Poplar).—Workshops were inspected in both districts and improvements
effected in ventilation ; in cases of insufficient water-closet accommodation additional water-closets
were provided, and overcrowding abated.
St. George, Southward.—The workshops now registered number 242, of which 78 have been
registered during the year ; 29 notices have been served in respect of these places.
Bermondsey.—" A large number of factories and workshops were inspected, and in many
instances increased water-closet accommodation provided, and other sanitary improvements carried
out."
Rotherhithe.—The sanitary inspector reports that notices were served in two instances, on one
occasion owing to the dirty condition of a workshop, on another because of the want of sufficient watercloset
accommodation. The notices were complied with.
Battersea.—The medical officer of health states that " the passing of the Act has entailed considerable
additional work on the sanitary department."
Wandsworth (Clapham}.—The workshops inspected numbered 50, of which 3 required
cleansing, 2 were overcrowded, and 5 required additional water-closet accommodation. (Putney).—" All
workshops have been inspected and found in a satisfactory condition." Lists of outworkers have been
obtained twice during the year from all workshops, and notices have been sent to the authorities of the
districts where they reside, but no notices have been received from any other sanitary authority,
therefore "the utility of this order is practically nil." (Wandsworth).—Five workshops were inspected
during the year, and notices were served where necessary and promptly complied with.
Camberwell.—The number of workshops inspected was 218.
Greenwich.—(Greenwich)—Notices were served in 37 instances to increase the water-closet accommodation
in workshops, legal proceedings being taken against occupiers of two workshops; other occupiers
were ordered in 4 cases to cleanse, in 2 to abate overcrowding, one workshop was closed as being
underground and unfit for occupation, and 62 visits were made by inspectors to factories and workshops.
(Deptford)—" Workshops and factories have continued to receive careful attention as to cleansing,
ventilation, overcrowding and closet accommodation. 125 were visited during the year."