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48
Officially factories do not come within the jurisdiction of the
Medical Officer of Health, except indirectly where a sanirtary
inspector or other official authorised by the Council can visit
factories for the purpose of examining employers' lists of outworkers.
The question of sanitary conveniences are generally referred to the
Medical Officer of Health by factory inspectors. Means of escape
from fire in factories, which is imposed as a distinct responsibility
on local authorities by the Factory and Workshop Act. is
dealt with by the Chief Fire Officer.
The present position regarding responsibilities of local author
ities in factories is somewhat indeterminate except as regards
bakehouse factories, which are now under local authorities b\
the Ministry of Health Order 95S, of October, 1921, unless
notified by H.M. Inspector of Factories under Section
of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901. While admitting that
Section 125 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, does not
empower local authorities to enter factories, there is, on the otherhand,
nothing in the Act to indicate that they must not or cannot
enter. In fact, as already mentioned, Section 11, regarding
means of escape from fire, places a definite duty upon the local
authority as regards factories, but gives no right of entry, while
again, offensive trades when carried on in factories must be
periodically visited under their respective bye-laws.