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Factory owners have criticised the procedure where two sets of officials, factory and Public Flealth
Inspectors, visit the same premises. The Public Health Inspector is restricted to the supervision of sanitary
accommodation in mechanical factories and cannot maintain a keen interest in this work. The Public Health
Inspector is as well qualified to supervise the various requirements in a mechanical factory and could have
technical assistance in the more difficult cases. The numbers of Public Health 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.
There was a slight decrease in the total number of factories on the register compared with the
previous year.
Details of inspections, defects found and action taken, are given in Tables 47 and 48. Most notices
were served for minor defects and were complied with without legal action.
Section 1 of the Factories Act requires internal walls, ceilings, etc. in all rooms, passages and staircases
in factories to be washed and repainted periodically, but provides for exemption in certain cases. The
Factories (Cleanliness of Wall and Ceilings) Order, 1957, which came into operation on the 16th June, 1958,
grants such exemptions where walls and ceilings have been painted with two or more coats of emulsion paint
and which are repainted with at least one coat of such paint once every five years and are washed every
fourteen months. The makers certificate of quality of the paint and the dates of painting and washing must
be recorded in the general register of the factory.
Basement bakehouses
The local authority is responsible for the supervision of basement bakehouses under section 54 of
the Factories Act, 1937. Basement bakehouse is defined as a bakehouse any baking room of which is so
situated that the surface of the floor is more than three feet below the surface of the footway of the adjoining
street or of the ground adjoining or nearest to the room. A baking room is defined as any room used for
baking or for the process incidental thereto. Any basement bakehouse which is not used for twelve months
cannot be used again.
Under section 54 certificates of suitability issued to the occupiers of basement bakehouses when the
Factories Act came into operation, that is 1st July, 1938, have to be reconsidered by the Council every five
years. Provided the bakehouse is still suitable as regards construction, height, light, ventilation and any
hygienic respect, the certificate must be renewed. In 1958 six certificates were renewed but since then one
bakehouse has ceased to be used as it was demolished.
Outworkers and homeworkers
In February and August of each year factory owners send to the local authority lists of names and
addresses of all persons who work at home for them on certain jobs, together with those who have worked
for them during the previous six months. 213 were employed during the year, the greatest number
(108) making clothes (Table 49). Inspection of these workers' homes was made by the Public Health
Inspectors and a notice was served in respect of one found to be unsatisfactory.
Noise nuisance
The Borough Council deal with noise nuisances under section 313 of the Middlesex County Council
Act, 1944. Complaints about 20 alleged noise nuisances were received, but only 12 could be dealt with
under this section. Four were caused by various types of woodworking machinery and others by concrete
drilling, steam raising, engine testing, oil firing jets, compressors, moulding presses, power fans and steam
safety valves. All except two were remedied after consultation with the management by such means as fixing
suppressors and sound insulators. A noise consultant has been called in to advise the Council on the two
firms who have failed to remedy their noise nuisance.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE
The Council introduced an occupational health service for their employees in April, 1954.
Public Health Inspectors visit all offices and workplaces to inspect working conditions, particularly
canteens, rest rooms, cloakrooms, and first-aid equipment. Defects such as poor ventilation or lighting,
defective water closet accommodation, dirty walls and ceilings, and inadequate first-aid equipment, are
brought to the notice of the chief officer concerned.
First-aid boxes are provided for the use of the departments, libraries, workshops and depots.
Regular inspection of the boxes and equipment are made to ensure that the boxes are fully stocked and that
the notice bearing the name and address of the nearest medical practitioner is correct.
Five employees who had been regularly absent from work on account of sickness were referred by
chief officers to the medical officer of health. Employees suffering from disability or chronic illness may
apply direct to the medical officer of health.
CARE OF THE AGED
As the proportion of old people in the community increases it becomes more urgent and necessary
to extend our medical and welfare services to care adequately for them.
Most old people are living alone but they can manage to look after themselves in spite of their deficiencies
in money, suitable living accommodation and general amenities. Some require help to keep them
comfortable and happy in their own homes, while a small minority cannot be adequately cared for except in
a hospital or old people's home. The local health authority provides home nurses, home helps, and health
visitors, who investigate the needs of the old people and arrange for the necessary services to be given.
Generally speaking, it is now easier to obtain admission for an aged patient, and the Geriatric
Physician and his almoner work in close co-operation with the local health and district authorities. However,
there is still a great need for more hospital accommodation.