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26
SECTION D
FACTORIES, OUTWORKERS, SMOKE ABATEMENT,
SHOPS ACT, RODENT CONTROL AND VERMINOUS
CONDITIONS AND UNCLEANLINESS.
Factories.
The supervision of factories is partly in the hands of the Factory
Inspectors of the Ministry of Labour and National Service and partly
in the hands of Local Authorities. Factories having mechanical
power are largely the responsibility of the former and factories without
mechanical power, the latter. In both cases the adequacy and efficiency
of the sanitary accommodation is dealt with by the Local Authority.
Owing to the all-embracing interpretation of the term "factory,"
there are one hundred and forty-five premises in the Department's
Register. The definition includes such premises as boot and shoe
repairers, cycle and radio repair shops and all premises, however
small, where articles are made, repaired, altered or adapted for sale (to
quote just a small part of a very long definition). Comparatively few
of this number are of any size.
The supervision of "workplaces" is carried out by the Local
Authority under the provisions of the Public Health Act, 1936.
The name "outworker" is applied to persons carrying out certain
classes of work at their houses and the employer, i.e., the occupier of
the factory, is required to supply to the District Council, every six
months, lists containing the names and addresses of such persons.
None of the local factories employ outworkers resident in this district,
but a certain number of our residents are employed by factories in
other areas. When a case of infectious disease is notified at an outworker's
home, steps are taken to ensure that there is no risk of
infection being conveyed by the articles made thereat.
It is incumbent upon the Health Department of the Local
Authority to approve, among other things, the general health provisions,
overcrowding, temperature, ventilation and drainage of floors and to
keep a register of all factories and to be in close touch with the
Factory Inspectors under the Ministry of Labour and National Service.
Smoke Abatement.
Twenty-three inspections and observations were made in connection
with the emission of smoke from chimneys. There were no
offences in this connection.
Shops Act.
There are 652 shops recorded in the district and, during the year
1950, 154 inspections were made. In only three cases was it necessary
for the Committee to issue Informal Notices to enforce compliance
with the Shops Act.