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85
KITCHENS OF RESTAURANTS.
The obligation to inspect kitchens is derived from the Public Health
(London) Act, 1891 (in conjunction with the Factory and Workshop Act,
1901), which requires all Local Authorities to satisfy themselves as to the
sanitary condition of workplaces within their Districts, and a detailed
inspection of these places was commenced early in the year.
The principal objects of investigation are as follow:—
(a) To ascertain as to the position of the kitchen ; the condition of the
floor, walls and ceiling ; ventilation, &c.
(b) The number of workers employed (male and female).
(c) W.C. accommodation provided.
(d) The condition of the sinks, &c.
(e) The cooking process employed.
(f) The cubic contents of the kitchen, to detect overcrowding.
The principal defects detected relate to:—
(a) Insufficient ventilation.
(b) Defective W.C. accommodation.
(c) Insufficient and unsuitable W.C. accommodation.
(d) Dirty walls and ceilings, cisterns, &c., &c.
Out of a total of 155 kitchens inspected, 76 were found to be situated in
the basement. This is a serious defect, and one which I am glad to observe
is not being repeated in modern structures, in which the kitchen is almost
invariably placed upon the top floor.
The difficulties of efficiently ventilating an underground kitchen are
obvious, and the day is probably not far distant when they will be placed
upon the same footing as underground bakehouses, and have to receive a
similar certificate of suitability. In numerous cases the ventilation is
partially obtained by means of open gratings at the surface of the footway
pavement, indeed in some instances little else can be had. The most serious
defect in this system is that mud and filth is allowed to fall into the kitchens,
but this has been obviated in many cases by the provision of moveable trays
placed immediately beneath the openings. In this connection one must be
ready to admit that the conditions prevailing with respect to the carriage and
footway pavements in the City, which are so frequently cleansed, reduces the
opportunity for mud, &c., falling through the open gratings to a minimum.