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74
APPENDIX
OFFICES, SHOPS AND RAILWAY PREMISES ACT, 1963
In presenting a report on the work carried out under the above-mentioned
Act, one is conscious of the wide scope of the duties coming within the
terms of the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act, 1963.
Much has been accomplished, and if the staff were numerically larger,
more could be done and inspections proceed at a greater speed. However, the
policy of the Department is to proceed steadily and in detail giving premises
a thorough inspection, thus avoiding the need for further inspection for some
time to come.
As mentioned in a previous report changes in occupancy of shops.and
offices are frequent and the desire to use allotted areas to the best advantage
by alteration of office partitions, may lead to overcrowding and upset
in the ventilation system provided in the building.
The Whitgift Centre shops are to a large extent occupied. The formation
of this shopping centre has put stress on the work of the Department in
examining plans and meeting builders, architects and heating and ventilation
engineers either on the site or in the office, often at short notice.
With the change in status of the General Post Office the responsibility
for the inspection of all post offices, clerical offices, sorting offices and
other post office properties (except factories) has been transferred to the
Local Authority. During the year Forms of Registration of 31 premises in the
occupation of the Post Office Corporation were received from H.M. District
Inspector of Factories (who was the official formerly responsible for the
inspection of General Post Office premises as Crown property).
The Post Office Corporation employs in the 31 various premises in the
Borough (other than factory premises) 3,175 workers, of whom 1,928 are
males and 1,247 females.
During the Christmas period, five premises temporarily occupied by the
Post Office Corporation to deal with increased postal work were inspected
for compliance with welfare provisions.
The practice of inspecting plans relating to offices, shops, warehouses
and factories continues. Detailed examination is required, to ensure inter
alia that so far as possible no form of construction is carried out which may
later result in accidents. This applies particularly to means of access to
lift motor rooms, boiler houses, and means of access to loading bays. During
the year no fewer than 1,100 plans have been inspected and reported upon
and this is the highest number since the Act came into force in 1964.
The inspection of hoists and lifts under the Offices, Shops and Railway
Premises (Hoists and Lifts) Regulations, 1968, has continued and all adverse
reports made by Inspectors of Insurance Companies are pursued to a satisfactory
conclusion. During the year 8 adverse reports were received on manually
operated hoists and 12 on electrically operated lifts. Visits were made to
the premises concerned, and notices subsequently served upon the owners of