London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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London County Council 1896

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

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68
penalties for the non-provision of sanitary conveniences in factories, and to give notice in writing to
sanitary authorities for the remedies to be applied, to require to be informed by sanitary authorities
of the proceedings taken, and if not taken within one month to proceed as sanitary authorities might
have proceeded. It appears to be the duty of London sanitary authorities to receive complaints from
anybody, including their own officers, and also from H.M. inspectors of factories, to order sanitary
convenience to be provided in factories, to see that they are constructed according to by-laws and
regulations, and to supervise their construction."
A large number of workshops employing male labour were entered on the register, but they
represent only a small proportion of the number in the whole parish. Except for the abatement of
nuisances, under notice, no re-inspections of the workshops entered in the register have yet been made.
The female inspector made 3,203 inspections and 286 re-inspections, and inspected all the workshops
and laundries in the district where women are employed.
Islington.—In this district it was stated that the work was of the most satisfactory character,
the female inspector made 1,251 inspections of workshops, containing 1,900 workrooms. It was found
that in 27 there was overcrowding, in 10 the ventilation was bad, and in 50 there was uncleanliness.
Other sanitary defects "341 in number" were remedied. As many as 547 cards were distributed,
showing the number of persons the rooms could accommodate.
Stoke Neuiington.—The factories and workshops have been inspected during the year, and the
list of out-workers kept up to date.
llackney—The number of workshops registered during the year was 103. Various conditions
were found requiring remedy.
St. Giles.—The number of visits made to factories and workshops was 109; special attention
was given to the requirements of the Public Health Act as to watercloset accommodation.
Strand.— There are about 600 places where persons are employed in some kind of mechanical
labour, 18 of these are laundries in which the necessary improvements have been effected.
Holborn.— There is no register of factories and workshops in this district, but 100 were inspected
during the year.
St. Luke.— There were 90 workshops inspected, of which 30 were found to be satisfactory.
The defects in the others included dirty water closets, defective drains, want of cleanliness, and overcrowding.
City.—H.M. inspectors gave 102 notices concerning workshops; 75 of these notices related to
intended occupation or change of occupation of premises and 27 to sanitary defects.
Shoreditch.—During the year 54 notices were received from the factory inspector relating to
defects. Apart from the work arising out of these notices, numerous workshops and workplaces
received attention and a large amount of work was executed.
Bethnal-green.—No periodical supervision of workshops has been undertaken, but trade premises
have been dealt with when discovered in the ordinary course. All notices from H.M. factory inspectors
have received attention and insanitary conditions have been remedied. The Sanitary Committee has
declined to endorse the complaint of a sanitary inspector and refused to require the owner of a small
workshop to provide two water-closets where only one or two workers of each sex were employed. The
medical officer of health thinks that the infliction of a penalty would be that very few additional waterclosets
would be erected, while women would lose their employment.
Whitechapel.—A good deal of time was given to workshops during the year ; very many night
visits were made.
St. George-in-the-East.—The number of workshops inspected was 306. Complaints from H.M.
inspector have received attention.
Limehouse.—The workshops have been inspected.
Mile-end: Old-town.—In this district 242 workshops are periodically inspected with beneficial
effect, over-crowding is rarely found, and for the most part they are kept in a cleanly condition.
Inquiries showed that in the whole districts there were only 30 workshops where women and not men
were employed, and 212 where men and women were employed, and in the latter proper separate
sanitary conveniences were provided for each sex. There did not appear to the medical officer of health
need for the employment of a female inspector.
Poplar.—A tabular statement shows that in 42 instances improvements were effected in workshops.
St. George, Southwark.—There are 338 workshops on the register, 96 of which have been added
during the past year. The registration has led to the removal of nuisances such as filth, overcrowding
and bad ventilation. More pressing duties have militated against the enforcement of the requirements
of the order under section 27 (1) of the Act of 1891. The appointment of a special inspector is
recommended for the purposes of this order. The requirements of the Act of 1895 are set out in the
report.
St. Olave.—A tabular statement shows that the improvement of factories or workshops was
effected in 19 instances.
Bermondsei/.—In this district 219 factories and workshops were inspected, and improvements
effected in a number of them.
Rotherhiihe.—The report shows that 17 factories and workshops were improved.
Lambeth.—Workshops, numbering 255, were entered on the register.
Batter sea.—The sanitary authority received notice as to a number of workshops from H.M.
inspector of factories, some of which required cleansing, or were overcrowded, steps were taken in
connection with the complaints, water-closet accommodation was improved in other cases.
Wandsworth.—The medical officers of health state that the Act of 1895 has undoubtedly already
done much good.
In Clapham 1,581 workshops were inspected, and the condition of a number improved.