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FACTORIES.
The Council adminsters certain of the provisions
of the Factories Act 1937, mainly relating to health.
These provisions deal with cleanliness, overcrowding,
temperature, ventilation, drainage of floors, and
sanitary conveniences. In factories where no
mechanical power is used the Council enforces all these
provisions, but where mechanical power is used the Council's
responsibility is limited to securing the provision of
adequate sanitary conveniences, the remainder being
enforced by H.M. Inspectors of Factories, who also deal with
the many other provisions of the Act relating to safety
and welfare.
The Council also has the duty of ensuring that
certain classes of factory are provided with satisfactory
means of escape in case of fire and of issuing certificates
to that effect. Three such certificates were issued
during the year.
There are 75 factories of various types and sizes
in the District.
The Act requires occupiers of factories to forward
to the Council, twice yearly, a list of persons employed by
them in outwork on specified classes of work, and the
information enables control to be exercised over work carrier
out in unsatisfactory premises or in conditions likely to
lead to the spread of infection. Notification was
received of 64 outworkers, who were engaged in the following
occupations:-
Wearing apparel 57
Box making 2
Brush making 2
Feather sorting 2
Making of lampshades 1
In no instance was it necessary to restrict outwork
on account of infectious disease.
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