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INDUSTRIAL HEALTH
Factories.
Most of the 375 factories in the Borough are engaged in light industries such
as the manufacture of electrical components, piston rings, aircraft parts,
nameplates, and bakery furniture. The number of persons employed in these
factories ranges from 500 in the largest to one or two in the smallest. All
factories are visited to see that proper sanitary accommodation is provided;
those factories which do not use mechanical power are inspected for cleanliness,
avoidance of overcrowding, for adequate warmth and ventilation, and proper
drainage of floors. During 1954 the inspectors paid 247 visits to factories;
in 22 factories the attention of the management had to be drawn to contraventions
of the regulations. The inspectors also paid 31 visits to out-workers'
premises.
GENERAL MATTERS
Shops.
Section 38 of the Shops Act, 1950, deals with the provisions for the
health and comfort of the staff. Shops are required to be properly ventilated,
adequately warmed, and sufficiently lighted; they have to have toilet and
washing facilities; if the staff take meals on the premises there must
be suitable arrangements. Occasionally it happens, as in the case of a small
lock-up shop, it is impossible to provide a separate toilet on the premises. In
these cases the occupier may make an alternative arrangement to share a nearby
toilet and a certificate of exemption is granted from the requirement in the Act.
Mortuary.
The mortuary at Hampton, though small, is a good building. It provides
an important public service. During any year there occurs a series of cases in
which owing to either accident, sudden death, drowning in the river or other
untoward happening, a post-mortem examination is required by the coroner
to ascertain the cause of death. The number of bodies admitted to the
mortuary for this purpose during 1954 was 479.
Swimming Baths and Pools.
Excellent facilities for swimming are provided at the Corporation's three
open-air baths.
Water is supplied by the Metropolitan Water Board's main, and 12 samples
for bacteriological examination were taken throughout the season, all of which
were satisfactory.
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