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56
In a very few cases hostility has been experienced from shop assistants
and clerical staff. This is surprising when it is considered that the
Act is provided for their comfort and welfare. This attitude, however, has
changed later when improvements have been effected in the premises in
which they are employed and one is left to wonder why they had tolerated
such unsatisfactory conditions for so long in these days of labour shortage.
It would have been preferred if the provision of Section 52(2) of the
Factories Act, 1961 - which requires that a drinking water supply (whether
laid on or not) shall be clearly marked "Drinking Water" - were included
in this Act.
Difficulty in getting work done to comply with notices served, often
used as defence in Court, has shown that there is a genuine shortage in
the supply of building labour and time is spent in getting in touch with
builders urging attention to work for which they have received instructions.
As a matter of general experience, it would seem that:—
(1) Laundry and Dry Cleaners Receiving Offices are notorious in failing
to have hot water supply to wash basins. In one or two cases, there has
not even been a cold water supply or wash basin. One would have thought
that firms dealing with contaminated and unclean clothing would have
provided these necessary facilities for their staff, but in two cases resistance
from the firms in question necessitated the threat of legal proceedings
by the Town Clerk before the necessary work was carried out.
One firm of dyers and cleaners had their windows adorned with curtains
which could only be described as filthy.
(2) Dirty and unsafe conditions are frequently found in decorators, doit-yourself
and builders' merchants' shops, in that part of their premises
reserved for staff and for the storage of wallpapers, timber and other
goods.
(3) Television and radio shops and firms selling electric heating apparatus
seem to be the worst culprits in failing to provide a reasonable
shop temperature for assistants. A little more electric power devoted to
heating purposes and less to lighting and demonstration is indicated.
Accidents.
A number of accidents have arisen due to staff taking "short cuts"
to save time. These have been caused by staff falling or straining themselves
by carrying goods downstairs when the use of a lift is available.
Persons hurrying out of offices for meal break or at the end of the day
have fallen whilst descending staircases rather than wait for lift transport.