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The defects found were chiefly in relation to dirty walls and ceilings, dirty
and defective sanitary arrangements, and insufficient ventilation. A few cases
of absence of means of heating were discovered, and have been referred to
H.M. Chief Lady Inspector of Factories.
WORKPLACES—(Kitchens).
Forty new Kitchens of Restaurants or Tea-rooms have been inspected and
placed on the Register during the past year. The number of periodical
inspections made was 285. As usual, many basement kitchens were found to
be insufficiently ventilated. Other defects found were dirty walls and ceilings,
defective kitchen floors, and unsuitable, dirty, and defective sanitary
accommodation. 198 re-inspections were paid in connection with the
work required.
OUTWORKERS.
The lists of outworkers sent in by employers during 1908 contain 624
entries of premises in the City where work is carried on. As one outworker
may be employed by several employers, each of whom may send in his name
twice in one year, it is not surprising to find that these 624 entries represent
only 214 outworkers. Of this number 106 had been notified in previous
years, and the remaining 108 were newly notified as outworkers, though the
majority of them were already on the Workshop Register.
In view of the fact that that part of the Home Office Return which deals
with outworkers is headed "Home Work," it is necessary to point out that
the actual number of outworkers carrying on work in their own homes is
only 43, made up as follows:—
Thirteen employ persons other than members of their own families,
and appear on the Register of Workshops; twenty-five employ only
members of their own families, and are classed as having " domestic
workshops."
Five are "occasional workers," i.e., those whose "labour is
"exercised at irregular intervals and does not furnish the whole or
"principal means of living to the family," and who are consequently
exempt from the provisions of the Factory and Workshop Act.
There has been no occasion to take action under section 108 or sections
109 and 110 in Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, with regard to any
outworker's premises during the past year. The following Table shows the
number of premises in the City where work is carried on by "outworkers"—