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Four dirty milk bottles were reported by the public and the Council issued official cautions. One
was reported by another local authority and legal proceedings were taken against the bottlers, who were fined
£10 with five guineas costs.
The Metropolitan Dairymen's Society and the department co-operated in exhibiting a display stand
at the Willesden Show in connection with the Society's clean milk bottle campaign.
FACTORY INSPECTION
There was a decrease in the total number of factories in the borough compared with the previous
year (Table 43).
The Council supervise sanitary conveniences in all factories and in addition cleanliness, overcrowding,
temperature, ventilation and drainage of floors in non-power factories. Details of inspections and notices
served, defects found and remedied, are given in Tables 43, 44. Most of the notices were served for minor
defects and were complied with without legal action.
Basement bakehouses
The local authority is responsible for the supervision of basement bakehouses under 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.
Certificates of suitability are issued under section 54 of the Factories Act, 1937, to the occupiers of
basement bakehouses, and 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 have worked at home for them during the previous six months on certain jobs.
213 were employed during the year, the largest number, 123, altering and making clothing. Public Health
Inspectors inspect these workers' homes and a notice was served in respect of one found to be unsatisfactory.
(Table 45).
Noise nuisance
The Borough Council deal with noise nuisances under the Noise Abatement Act, 1960, which superseded
the noise nuisance sections of the Middlesex County Council Act, 1944. It provides that noise and
vibration which are a nuisance are offences under the Act. It is no longer necessary for a doctor to have to
decide whether there is danger or injury to health.
Fifteen complaints were received during the year, but only ten came within the scope of the Acts.
These included noise from pneumatic drills, extractor fans, panel beating, boiler plant, planing and doughmaking
machines, refrigerator motors and lorry engine; some of these nuisances occurred at night. All were
remedied by re-siting machinery, by the use of insulating material, or by the rearrangement of working hours.
The Council's noise consultant is giving advice on the abatement of noise nuisances in two factories.
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 officers.
First-aid boxes are provided for the use of the departments, libraries, workshops and depots.
Regular inspections 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. In March, the contents
of all boxes were reviewed and revised lists were issued to chief officers.
Nine 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.