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38.
HEATING APPLIANCES (FIREGUARDS) ACT, 1952.
General observation was kept on the sale of heating appliances to
ensure that they complied with the Regulations made under the above-named
Act and in several cases the sellers and users of heating appliances
requested that their guards be tested.
The Chief Sanitary Inspector made several tests of appliances at the
request of manufacturers and others in the Borough.
PREVENTION OF DAMAGE BY PESTS ACT, 1949.
The rodent staff employed for this particular work consists of one
rodent supervisor - Mr. Bryant (part-time), one investigator and two rodent
operators. The whole of the sewer system throughout the Borough was
treated and poison baiting was carried out twice during the year.
The number of complaints received in connection with the common
rat increased during the year, probably owing to the amount of new
building which has been done in the Borough and the consequent disturbance
of old drains during demolition.
It is customary, when buildings are demolished, for the Sanitary
Inspector to visit and ensure that the old drains are effectively
sealed off from the sewer. In connection with the complaints received,
483 drains were tested and in 50 cases it was found that the drainage
was defective. Notices were served to remedy the defects found.
There has been a continued decrease in complaints regarding
infestation by the black rat. Infestations from mice appear to
have been on the decrease this year. The following tables are an
indication of the amount of work carried out in connection with the
Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 -