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56
FACTORY AND WORKSHOPS ACTS, 1901 and 1907.
Section 132 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, states
that the Medical Officer of Health shall report specifically in his
Annual Report on the administration of these Acts in workshops
and workplaces in the district, and send such report to the Secretary
of State.
Factories.—Factories include all places in which mechanical
power is used in the aid of manufacturing processes, and all
places, whether mechanical power is used or not, in which the
industries specified in Part 1 of section 6 of the Factory and Workshop
Act, 1901, are carried on.
The duties of a District Council in the case of factories are
limited, and deal mainly with the securing of proper provision of
means of escape in case of fire, and the enforcement of provision
of suitable sanitary conveniences. There are also special duties
in regard to bakehouses.
169 visits were made to factories during 1925, and nuisances
dealt with and remedied in 16 instances.
Workshops and Workplaces.—District Councils have important
duties in regard to workshops and workplaces, and deal
with the sanitary condition generally, the provision of means of
escape from fire, the special sanitary condition for bakehouses, and
home work.
The workshops and workplaces have been inspected, and
where any nuisance remediable under the Public Health Acts have
been discovered the premises have been re-visited until the defects
found have been abated, likewise any contraventions of the
Factory and Workshops Acts found have been dealt with. The
cleanliness and general condition of the rooms are for the most
part satisfactory. Frequently the ventilation of the rooms is not
good, although the means of ventilation is sufficient if used fully
and correctly; advice is given to the occupier, which is generally
all that is necessary to put the matter right. At the beginning of
1925 the number of workshops and workplaces on the register was
292, and 294 at the end of the year.
The workrooms are grouped as follows :—
Manufacture of blouses, underclothing, etc. 39
,, ,, boots, shoes, etc. 17
,, ,, ties, neckware, etc. 7
,, ,, leather goods and fancy articles. 7