View report page

less than 60 degrees F (after the first hour), wholesome drinking
water, first aid equipment, regular cleaning of premises and windows,
lighting and the guarding of staircases and openings. No room to
be overcrowded so as to be injurious to health and after a period
of three years each worker will be entitled to at least 400 cubic feet
of air space and 40 square feet of working space (this requirement
will not apply to rooms where the public are normally served).
Exits, floors and passageways must be kept free of obstructions.
Guarding of dangerous machinery and prohibition of young persons
from cleaning of machinery where there is a risk of injury. There
is to be proper sitting facilities for both male and female workers.
The seat provided must be suitable for the purpose not only for
the work to be done whilst sitting but also consideration of the
individual. There is to be training for and supervision of young
persons working dangerous machines.
Administration and Enforcement
Local Authorities will be responsible for the enforcement of
most of its provisions, the Factory Inspector will be responsible
for inspecting offices in factories, Government premises, railway
premises and premises occupied by Local Authorities.
Local Authorities are required to submit annually, reports to
the Minister of Labour who himself has a duty to submit an annua!
report to both Houses of Parliament. The Minister has power to
set up a supervisory Central inspectorate for the purposes of ensuring
uniformity of inspection and to give advice to local authorities, in
fact, a department within the Ministry of Labour is now in being,
known as the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Branch.
The Act will come into force about August 1964 so as to allow
owners and occupiers of buildings a reasonable period in which to
put their premises in order, to prepare some regulations which the
Minister has power to make, to deal with registrations before inspections
first begin and to recruit and train inspectors.
It is estimated that there are about one million premises liable
for inspection, a formidable task and a challenge to everyone concerned.
It means, at least, that the larger local authorities will need
additional inspectors and clerical assistants.
On the point of inspection and during the passage of the Act
through Parliament, Local Authorities and their inspectorate were
criticised for their failure to carry out the existing Shops Act 1950
Page 84