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persons are working or passing, for securing and maintaining suitable and sufficient lighting by
either natural or artificial means. No minimum standard is laid down in the Act, but the Minister
has the power to make Regulations presenting such standards in all or any of the classes or
premises to which the Act applies.
The Minister has not yet made such Regulations, but guidance has been obtained from pamphlets
issued by such bodies as the British Lighting Council, which has set out a Code covering
all artificial interior lighting applications. This code recommends illumination levels, and specifies
a limit on the amount of glare found to be acceptable.
Prohibition of Heavy Work.
Section 23 of the Act provides for the limitation by Regulations of the weight of loads carried
by employees. Although the Minister of Labour has publicised advice on the subject, pointing
out that the lifting ability of an individual depends on such factors as 'know-how', muscle tone,
and general physical characteristics, general guidance is indicated based on the average build of
experienced industrial workers.
An accident in this category reported to the Department resulted in a hernia to the person
concerned due to moving a heavy safe, and in this particular case, advice on the lines indicated
above, was given to the employer concerned.
Dangerous Machinery
Certain machines likely to be used in the various premises covered by the Act might expose
the operators to some danger, especially if the construction is such that moving parts are not
adequately fenced.
This problem was foreseen and the Act includes several sections intended to provide the
the enforcing authority with a means of controlling the use of this type of machinery. The
requirements briefly are:-
(1) That all dangerous parts of machinery should be securely fenced and that the fencing
must be of substantial construction, properly maintained and kept in position whilst
the dangerous part is in motion or use (Section 17). The actual wording used is similar
to that of Section 14 of the Factories Act 1961 and this has been interpreted by the
Courts to mean that it is the employers duty to fence every machine to provide
absolute security against all forseeable risks even if this renders the machine un-usable
- although most machines can be fenced without making them un-usable.
(2) That no person under 18 years may clean any machinery if in doing so they are exposed
to risk of injury from a moving part of that machine or of any adjacent machinery. (Section 18).
(3) That no person may work any machine specified by the Minister as being dangerous unless
fully instructed as to possible dangers and precautions necessary and has been
sufficiently trained in work at the machine or is under adequate supervision by an
experienced person (Section 19). The Minister has now specified certain machines as
being dangerous in the Prescribed Dangerous Machines Order, 1964, which came into
operation on 1st August, 1964. The machines specified vary from Dough mixers to
Garment pressers; from bacon slicing machines to hand-operated guillotine machines.
Out of a total of 103 accidents notified up to the end of 1964 it is interesting to note that on
only one occasion was dangerous machinery involved. On this occasion the operator of a letteraddressing
machine suffered injury to the fingers due to what was considered to be inadequate
guarding of the machine. The facts were reported to the officer appointed by the Minister under
Section 57 of the Act, who took the matter up with the manufacturers of the machine in question.
These manufacturers are now in the process of improving the design of the machine so as to comply
with the requirements of the Act.
The presence, in premises to which the Act applies of dangerous machines which come
within the scope of the Prescribed Dangerous Machines Order 1964, is noted by the inspector at
the time of the initial general inspection and if necessary, steps are taken to ensure that those
which are inadequately fenced receive attention.
First Aid.
The first aid requirements can be divided into:-
a. Provision of First Aid Boxes
b. Setting-up of First Aid Rooms
c. Presence of Qualified Staff.
Where premises have less than 150 people employed it is only necessary for a first aid box
to be provided in the charge of a responsible person who need not be qualified to render first aid.
In these smaller premises so far inspected no difficulty has been found in obtaining the provision
of an adequate number of boxes. Employers are accepting the view that a small injury promptly
treated could avoid an absence from work. .
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