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visits were made by the Public Health Inspectors and of this number 2578 were general inspections.
With much of the groundwork done it should in future be possible to achieve a higher annual rate
of general inspection.
There are no special difficulties due to congested, badly planned offices or office blocks in
multiple occupation and the unsatisfactory conditions encountered have not required extensive
remedial work, being mainly lack of hot water supplies, room thermometers and adequate space
heating in cold weather, the siting and sharing of sanitary accommodation and washing facilities
and the failure to display, or give to, the staff an Abstract of the Act. Some Special attention
was given to lighting standards and it was found that in those cases where the lighting was unsatisfactory
it was mainly in connection with premises which had been in constant unchanged use for
many years. Where recommendations on lighting have been made to occupiers as to the standards
they should adopt, the Illuminating Engineering Society's Code has been used as a basis. During
1965 to 1969 it has been necessary to serve some 366 Notices on persons drawing their attention
to certain deficiencies and/or specifying works to be carried out to comply with the Act.
ACCIDENTS
During the period 1965—1969 216 accidents were notified under Section 48 of the above Act
and it was considered necessary to investigate 77 of these.
There were no fatalities and in only 2 instances was it necessary, because of infringement of the
Act, to send a copy of the investigation report to the Deputy Superintending Inspector of
Factories, and formally to warn the occupier. In all other cases advice was given where appropriate.
Many of the accidents notified were of a very minor nature due to human error rather than
unsuitable working conditions.
HOISTS AND LIFTS
The Offices, Shops and Railway Premises (Hoists and Lifts) Regulations 1968 which came into
operation in May 1960 apply safety standards to those hoists or lifts situated in premises to which
the main Act applies.
The attention of six firms has been drawn to infringements and work to remedy them has been
completed or is in hand.
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