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90
BAKEHOUSES.
Prior to the year 1901 the conditions under which bakers
worked were far from satisfactory, and in many cases gross evils
existed. The powers conferred upon Local Authorities by the
provisions of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, enabled them
to improve the sanitary conditions of bakehouses, and a great
deal of work has been done to premises of this character since
that date.
It was the rule in most bakehouses that the bakers washed
in the bakehouse itself, a pail of water serving as a lavatory
basin, while the bakehouse also served as a dressing room in which
he changed his working clothes. These conditions, without
exception, have been altered during the last few years, and the
employees of the baker are now provided with a room where they
can change their clothes, and a lavatory basin for washing
purposes.
In the course of my visits of inspection to bakehouses in the
district 1 have been struck with the general improvement in their
sanitary condition. A great difficulty, however, exists in
breaking down the prejudice of the baker as to the necessity for
the efficient ventilation of his bakehouse, and whenever attention
is drawn to the fact one is met with the reply " Oh, I must have
the place shut up otherwise my bread will not rise." This plea is
put forward on all occasions irrespective of whether the dough is
rising or being withdrawn from the oven. Another great
difficulty that has to be contended with is the loading of the
bakehouse with sacks of Hour, a practice which is most undesirable
as the cubic area of the bakehouse is thereby restricted, and the
dirt and dust from the sacks makes anything but a desirable
admixture in the bread with which it is baked.