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31
Underground Rooms:
At December 31st, 1949, there were 20 underground rooms in use as factories, 3 non-mechanical and
17 mechanical: 16 of the 17 underground factories were part of larger premises. Defects were found in 10 of
the 17 mechanical factories; the water closet accommodation was insufficient in 2 of these factories; an
additional water closet has been installed in one and a notice has been served upon the owner in the other.
The other defects included insufficient lighting, insufficient ventilation and want of cleansing; a verbal notice
was given at the time of inspection in two of the factories. The 3 non-mechanical factories have now ceased
to operate.
Factory owners have criticised the procedure where two sets of officials, factory and sanitary inspectors,
visit the same premises. The sanitary inspector, restricted to the supervision of sanitary accommodation in
mechanical factories, cannot maintain a keen interest in this work. The sanitary inspector is as well qualified
to supervise the various requirements in mechanical factories as in non-mechanical factories and could have
technical assistance in the more difficult cases. The numbers of sanitary inspectors would also make it possible
to have better and more frequent supervision of factory premises.
The fact that the local authority would be responsible for the supervision of factory premises would lead
to better control of the safeguards for preserving the health and welfare of the workers in the factories.