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94
FACTORY AND WORKSHOP ACT.
The above tables summarise the inspections made under the
Act during the year. It will be observed that by far the greatest
class of workshops is comprised under the head of laundries. Of
the different classes of laundries, the factory laundries are found
to maintain a far higher standard of sanitation than is the case
in workshop laundries. This is largely accounted for by the fact,
that the owners of laundries using steam power have the premises
specially erected or adapted for the purpose of their business, and
such matters as lighting and ventilation are duly considered when
the plans are prepared.
In one instance a power laundry was found to be structurally
so unsuitable as to render it on sanitary grounds unfit for the
Purposes of a laundry. In order to avoid the proceedings which
the Council authorised in respect of this laundry, the proprietor
discontinued its use and obtained other and more suitable
premises in another part of the district.
I append here Miss Gaul's report on the results of her
inspections of workshops where women are employed.
“Laundries.—The laundry work in by far the greater number
of laundries in Willesden is carried on in ordinary dwelling
houses, which are necessarily unsatisfactory workplaces.
"The premises are as a rule fairly well kept, the greatest
number of nuisances found arising from defective wash-house
or ironing-room floors.
" Many of the wash-houses are unsuitably situated, interfering
generally with the light and ventilation of the lower portion of
the premises.