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inspector made 135 first visits to workshops where women were employed, and 1,440 visits of re.
inspection; the male inspector inspected 58 workshops where men were employed; as the result
•of these visits notices were served, and there were three prosecutions. In the City there were 264
inspections and 1,364 re.inspections of various premises, and 355 notices were served. In Bethnal.
green the various premises were visited at least twice in the year, the inspections numbering 1,394,
notices being served where necessary. In Stepney 2,266 visits were made to the workshops; notices
were served where necessary. In Poplar the female inspector made 610 inspections and 305 re.
inspections, 143 notices were served and in one instance there was a prosecution; the male inspectors
also inspected and served notices. In Lambeth there were 313 workshops visited and
inspected, 163 were re-inspected by the female inspector, and 198 notices served. In Camberwell
there were 1,552 inspections of workshops, 925 of bakehouses, and 322 of laundries.
Air space and ventilation.
In nearly all the reports which have been received the number of cases of overcrowding
which have been found and dealt with are recorded. This condition appears to have been
especially found in workrooms occupied by dressmakers, the requirement of labour in this
work being of a fluctuating character, varying with season. Under these circumstances rooms
at times become occupied by a much larger number of persons than their cubic capacity warrants,
and indeed, other rooms and places, altogether unsuitable, are improperly brought into use.
Dr. McCleary, writing of overcrowding in workrooms in Battersea, states that this was found in
twelve instances, each of them on premises occupied by dressmakers, and that he had found bathrooms
and even waterclosets used as workrooms. In other workrooms where trade is less seasonal,
the measuring up of rooms and the exhibition of a card showing how many persons may
occupy them, have evidently led to improvement. Dr. Reginald Dudfield states that the overcrowded
workrooms found in Paddington, of which there were 31, were for the most part rooms
which had not previously been measured, and Dr. Newman states that in Pinsbury, a central district,
overcrowding is rare. "In 28 cases it had been necessary to issue notices. In other cases
a slight rearrangement of workers has provided that each person shall have at least 250 cubic
feet. In many of the large workshops the air space provided is liberal."
In the matter of ventilation much difficulty has evidently been experienced through the
unwillingness of the workpeople to allow means of ventilation to be maintained in operation. In
numerous reports reference is made to this subject, and it is stated that openings which have
been made for this purpose are frequently found to have been stopped up by the employees, an action
often due, Dr. Kenwood states, to insufficient warming of the workshop. Dr. Collingridge expresses
the opinion that the best remedy is the use of fans operated by electricity, and which, when
properly fixed, cause a continuous change of air without producing draughts. The experience
of Dr. McCleary in Battersea is that it is impossible to adequately ventilate many of the workshops
in which sedentary occupations are carried on, especially tailoring and dressmaking, unless
means are adopted to warm the incoming air.
Reference is made to the question of warmth of workshops in many of the annual
reports. The Factory and Workshop Act requires that the workshop shall be maintained at a
reasonable temperature by means which do not interfere with the purity of the air. In the absence
of any definition of what constitutes a reasonable temperature, proceedings were instituted by
one of H. M. Inspectors of Factories in respect of certain workrooms in London having a temperature
varying from 54 deg. to 61 deg. These workshops were heated by steam.pipes, and in some
of them gas was burning. Dr. T. M. Legge, of the Factory Department of the Home Office, gave
evidence to the effect that in workshops in which sedentary occupations were carried on the
temperature should be from 60 deg. to 65 deg. The magistrate convicted, but the decision was
reversed at the County of London Sessions. Gas stoves and oil stoves unprovided with the means
for carrying off the products of combustion are frequently provided, and used for heating irons
and other purposes. Dr. Allan found in Westminster, in 87 instances, means of ventilation were
required for such stoves. He writes—
These stoves, as well as gas jets, give off gases which are injurious to health, especially in rooms in which
the ventilation is not well maintained. Breathing these products leads to headache, giddiness and anæmia. It
is claimed for some stoves that a flue is not neces sary, as the products are in great measure consumed or
condensed. Experiments made in the Government laboratory show that each of the five varieties tested (three
gas and two oil stoves) gave off a certain proportion of carbonic monoxide, a very poisonous gas, as well as a
larger quantity of carbonic acid gas. It is therefore of importance that special attention be given to the use of
such stoves. It not infrequently happens also that gas burners are relied upon to afford warmth to rooms, and
when such is the case it is almost always found that doors, windows, and other means of ventilation have been
closed, thereby infringing the Act in two particulars.
Sanitary accommodation.
The annual reports show that sanitary accommodation in factories and workshops in proportion
to the number of persons employed is being enforced in the several districts of London.
It would appear from the annual reports that the standard of accommodation, i.e., the proportion
of water-closets to the number of persons employed, is that specified in the Sanitary Accommodation
Order of the Home Office, dated 4th February, 1903. This Order does not apply to London, but
it provides a standard to which appeal may be conveniently made in determining what is to be
deemed sufficient. In respect of the following districts the number of instances during the year
in which sanitary accommodation was insufficient or unsuitable can be shown in tabular form;
these conditions were practically all remedied—
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