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28.
DISINFECTION AND DISINFESTATION.
The number of disinfections of rooms after infectious disease and
for other reasons was 74, The number of articles disinfected in this
connection at the Council's disinfector was 543. During the year
501 rooms were sprayed for verminous conditions and the number of
articles disinfected was 6390.
In addition to the articles disinfected for infectious disease,
etc., the Department carried out disinfection of articles for private
firms in the Borough, and various goods were disinfected, for which
charges amounting to £3.l0s. were made.
During the year a new disinfecting apparatus was installed to
replace the previous disinfecting apparatus Which was in a bad state of
disrepair. The previous method of disinfecting by steam has been
replaced by this new method of formaldehyde disinfection.
Prom a Public Health point of view the new method of disinfection
has been satisfactory but it is yet early to give a full comprehensive
view on the question of cost. However, during the time the new apparatus
has been working the cost of disinfection has been considerably reduced.
In respect of one item alone - namely coal - in 1955 42 tons of coal were
consumed at a cost of £221 and as the cost of the chemical fluid is
considerably less the resultant saving in 12 months has been approximately
£168 during the use of the new apparatus. The one big saving
which cannot be estimated in £ s d is the fact that it takes less labour
to manipulate as against the old steam boiler method, coupled with the
fact that a contribution has been made towards reducing atmospheric
pollution by the elimination of coal-consuming apparatus.
During the year 288 families were removed to new housing accommodation
on the Borough Council's housing estates. This work entails a
considerable amount of additional work for the staff. All furniture is
disinfected by the Hydrogen Cyanide method prior to removal to the new
accommodation by a firm of contractors under the supervision of the
officers of the Department.
When informed by the Housing Department of the families to be
removed, it is necessary for an officer of the Public Health Department
to ascertain the amount of furniture per family and to make arrangements
as to whether one or more families can be removed in the one furniture
van. By this means there is a considerable reduction in the cost of
removals.
The vans are usually met at 8 a.m. at a rendezvous on the date of
removal and it is our duty to see that all the furniture is placed in the
van and the tenant given instructions with regard to food as well as
seeing that arrangements are made for the reception of soft furniture
after disinfestation has taken place.