London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Shoreditch 1955

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]

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35.
HOME WORK.
During the year 64 lists of outworkers were received from employers
in the Borough, 31 in the first half-year due in February, and 33 in the
second half-year due in August. These lists contained the names of
1,736 outworkers, of whom 1,303 were not resident in Shoreditch. The
addresses of those non-resident were forwarded to the Sanitary Authorities
of the districts to which they belonged.
Lists were also received from 18 other Local Authorities containing
the names of 434 outworkers living in Shoreditch and employed by firms
outside the Borough. The total number of out-workers reported was
therefore 2,170.
As has been pointed out in previous reports, in numerous instances
names and addresses of outworkers are duplicated owing to lists being
sent in twice a year, and in some cases out-workers are employed by more
than one firm, so that the numbers given must not be taken as representing
actual numbers of individual workers. The tables on pages 35 and 36
show the distribution of out-workers as regards trades.
During the year 169 visits of inspection were made to places where
home work was being carried on, but no defect necessitating the service
of a sanitary notice was found.