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30.
FACTORIES
(Factories Act 1937 to 1959).
Number of factories in Shoreditch 1,041
Number of (a) Basic routine visits required according to the
programme 2,082
(b) Basic routine inspections made 1,407
(c) Re-inspections made 575
Total number of inspections made 1,982
The erection of many new factories, offices, garages and petrol filling
stations are rapidly consuming vacant sites in the industrial areas of the
Borough. Assiduous attention has been paid by the Public Health Inspectors
to the provision of proper amenities within these new commercial and
industrial buildings as an insurance against the development of problems
later on.
In complete contrast to these modem erections, there are numerous
small factories in Shoreditch trying to cram 'a quart into a pint pot*
because of lack of acccmmodation. This is a very serious problem, and
little can be done to encourage occupiers to provide other than the bare
requirements of facilities and amenities for the staff according to the
Factories Act. The standard therefore in this class of factory leaves
much to be desired. A problem of major significance will be augmented under
the heading of Atmospheric Pollution later in this Report, which deals with
the prohibition of the burning of wood wastes in Smoke Control Areas.
As the anoke Control Programme progresses in Shoreditch and the burning
of wood wastes is consequently prohibited in wood working factories, unless
approved appliances are provided for this purpose, the problem of providing
alternative means of space heating will have to be faced. Bearing these
facts in mind an approach has been made, through their Secretary, to the
London and South Eastern Furniture Manufacturers Association, and very close
harmony is being enjoyed with this body in an attempt to solve seme of these
difficult problems.
The problems of rodents and infestations in many of the older type of
factories in this Borough is ever with us, but at the same time, much
success is enjoyed due to the prompt action by the Council in this direction.
This matter will be more amplified under the Rodent and Infestation Section
of this Annual Report on page 50.