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nspectorate administered them in the minority. It has always seemed illogical that use of power
machinery alone should decide whether enforcement should be undertaken by either the local authority
or factory inspectorate. Usually, it is in the smaller power factories that health conditions are
unsatisfactory, and it has been estimated that of the 240,000 factories in this country, 221,000 employ
fewer than 50 people, and 203,000 of these employ fewer than 25. The factory inspectorate consists
of approximately 400 officers to deal with this vast number of factories. It must be realised that
without regular and frequent inspection, bad habits of the few soon result in dirty and unhealthy
conditions for the many. Obviously, with so few officers, the factory inspectorate is overburdened
and at a disadvantage in administering the Act. Local authority Medical Officers of Health and
Sanitary Inspectors have a wide and thorough knowledge of administering health legislation and are
no strangers to factory inspection. They have functions, other than those of the Factories Acts,
which take them into factories for a variety of duties in connection with Food and Drugs Acts and
Regulations, Rag Flock Act, atmospheric pollution, hygiene in factory canteens, rodent control, and
so on.
The worker in industry is also a member of the local community and the effect upon his health of
the conditions under which he works cannot be isolated from other factors, such as housing and general
environment. The Medical Officer of Health and his staff are responsible for the environmental health
of the community and it is a matter of great concern that adverse conditions are allowed to exist in
factories because they have no power to stop them and the factory inspectorate has insufficient staff
to detect and remedy them.
Thus, to assist in the efficient administration of the Acts, and to safeguard the health of the worker,
it is recommended that the local authority should be made responsible for administering in respect
of all factories the sections of the Acts relating to overcrowding, temperature, ventilation, lighting,
drainage of floors, sanitary accommodation, drinking water, washing facilities, and underground
rooms (sections 1 to 7 inclusive, 41, 42 and 53). Far greater use could then be made of the specialised
skill of the Medical Officer of Health and Sanitary Inspectors, and the overworked factory inspectorate
could be released for duties more in their field, such as the regulations for special trades, accident
prevention, toxic hazards, and the problems of the new atomic era in industry.
As far as St. Marylebone is concerned, 1955 proved a good trading yekr, particularly in the clothing
trade, and the number of factories registered increased to 1,769. Generally, conditions were quite
good. Some instances were found of ill-lit and gloomy workrooms, mostly due to insufficient window
cleaning, and, in some cases, bad artificial lighting. Apparently, some employers prefer to pay heavy
electricity bills rather than have windows cleaned regularly, and fail to appreciate that a good standard
of natural and artificial lighting would assist production, increase cleanliness, reduce accidents and
ensure greater comfort for all concerned. Heating of workrooms now seems to be mostly satisfactory
and, where possible, occupiers are requested to use heating appliances that do not burn smoke-producing
fuel—thus, helping to reduce atmospheric pollution. Most occupiers readily agree to this suggestion,
more especially when they realise that soot, etc., often has a harmful effect upon the materials they
use, and that modern convector heating appliances reduce the risk of accidents, increase the comfort
of employees and, again, aid production.
Out-Workers.
Ninety-eight employers submitted lists in respect of a total of 872 out-workers (243 contractors
and 629 workpeople). Of these, fifty-six contractors and thirty workpeople operated in the Borough.
The nature of the work upon which the out-workers were engaged is indicated below :—
Wearing apparel 817
Buttons 17
Umbrellas 8
Household linen 7
Textile weaving 9
Curtains and furnishings 9
Furniture and upholstery 2
Lampshades 3
Total 872
Offices and Shops.
It is estimated that 12 million people, almost half the working population, work in offices and shops
in this country. In 1949, the Gowers Report was published and drew attention to the need for positive
legislation concerning, in particular, offices. Shops Act legislation already in force deals with health