London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Shoreditch 1964
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]
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35
FACTORIES
(Factories Act 1961)
Number of Factories in Shoreditch 970
Number of (a) Basic Routine Inspections made 1,786
(b) Re-inspections made 280
Total number of inspections made 2,066
Whilst the erection of many new factories, offices, garages and petrol
filling stations continues in the Borough the numerous small factories because
of lack of accommodation, provide a very serious problem where nothing more
than the bare requirements of facilities and amenities for the staff according
to the Factories Acts can be provided
The problem of the retention of trade refuse and its disposal in such
limited accommodation continues to present a real problem, particularly in
Smoke Control Areas where for economic reasons of disposal and the provision
of cheap space heating an attempt is made to dispose of these trade wastes in
inefficient fireplaces and appliances
Particulars of the administration of the Factories Act 1961 in the form
required by Ministry of Health Circular 1/65 are as follows:-
| Premises | Number on Register | Number of | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inspections | Written Notices | Occupiers Prosecuted | ||
| (1) Factories in which Sections 1 2 3 4 & 6 are to be enforced by Local Authorities | 210 | 142 | 2 | |
| (ii) Factories not included in (i) in which Section 7 is enforced by L A | 750 | 1,910 | 27 | |
| (iii) Other premises in which Section ^ is enforced by the L A (excluding Outworkers Premises) | 5 | 14 | - | - |
| Total | 965 | 29 | - | |
2 Cases in which defects were found:-
| Particulars | Number of cases in which defects were found | Number of cases in which prosecutions were instituted | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Found | Remed ied | Referred | |||
| To H M Inspector | By H M Inspector | ||||
| Want of cleanliness (S. 1) .. | - | - | - | - | - |
| Overcrowding (S 2) | - | - | - | - | - |
| Unreasonable temperature (S 3) | - | - | - | - | - |
| Inadequate ventilation (S 4) | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ineffective drainage of floors (S 6) | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sanitary Conveniences (S 7) • (a) Insufficient | _ | . | _ | ||
| (b) Unsuitable or defective | 30 | 40 | - | 16 | - |
| (c) Not suitable for sexes | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other offences against the Act (not including offences relating to outwork) | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 30 | 40 | - | 16 | - |