View report page

62
APPENDIX
OFFICES, SHOPS AND RAILWAY PREMISES ACT. 1963
The Act came into force in the latter part of 1964, and, since then, has
been strengthened by Regulations made thereunder and will no doubt continue
to grow in scope by additional Regulations from time to time.
The occupancy of offices and shops is ever changing, and with the present
limited personnel, the Specialist Section cannot keep pace with the reinspection
of offices and shops consequent upon such changes in a large Borough
like Croydon.
Again in 1971, the fact that no fewer than 1,100 plans were inspected in
the Section to ensure compliance with the Act is indicative of the continuous
changes taking place.
Overcrowding of offices, particularly newer buildings, is not uncommon.
Offices which have been constructed for mechanical ventilation or air-conditioned
as open plan offices, are often partitioned without the knowledge of
the Local Authority or of the owners. Unforeseen conditions then arise and the
ventilation is restricted, or in some cases virtually non-existent. The impression
seems to be general that doors are a means of ventilation and this cannot
be accepted. Even offices constructed with natural ventilation often contain
unventilated internal offices due to partitioning. Site interviews with architects
and ventilation engineers have been necessary to remedy these unsatisfactory
conditions.
Similar difficulties have arisen in Banks, Post Offices, Betting Shops and
Self-Service Petrol Control Offices when bandit-proof screens have been installed.
In one instance where a Self-Service Petrol Station had been constructed
during 1971 the room containing a sink, indicated on the plan as a "Staff
Room" was found to be occupied as an office into which the water closet
opened. A ventilated lobby between the water closet and the newly formed
office has been constructed to comply with the Regulations.
Repeatedly one finds Receptionists' areas totally unventilated due to
their internal location. Continuously working in such areas is likely to cause
fatigue and the atmosphere is felt to be oppressive.
Although less frequently, premises are still being found with insufficient
sanitary accommodation, washing facilities and lack of hot water supplies.
Occasionally even standpipe taps are found as the sole means of washing
facilities for the staff.
Premises which can only be described as dirty, continue to be found. Although
the requirements of the Act are quite clear as to the cleansing of premises,
numbers of premises are being inspected where no arrangements are made for
regular cleansing.