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greater in size than those installed in a factory. The installation of a low chimney at
these exempted premises may sometimes give rise to an undesirable level of localized
pollution at the surrounding ground level.
(c) The Borough is one of many local authorities taking part in a national survey
of Atmospheric Pollution and there are three stations where daily measurements of
smoke density and sulphur dioxide are recorded. This work normally proceeds with'
out incident, but an unusual experience took place in the early part of the year when
an unexpected alkali reaction was obtained from the sulphur dioxide volumetric instrument
sited at the Civil Defence Centre in East Sheen. The instrument was checked
thoroughly and a new lead-in tube fitted.
On the 31st January the result was completely alkaline, after three days running,
with the wind from the South and South-West on two days. The instrument was
again checked and enquiries made at the Centre in case someone had "tampered" with
the instrument.
Alkaline reactions were also experienced on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th February.
During this period the wind was between South and South-West. On 2nd February
the aid of Warren Spring Laboratory was enlisted and a survey was made up-wind of
the instrument. The survey did not reveal any "unusual occurrence" which might
account for the contamination.
Warren Spring Laboratory carried out an analysis of the solution, exposed for
the twenty-four hours ended 2nd February. This indicated that the sulphur dioxide
had been neutralised by ammonia.
The results for the 7th, 8th and 9th February were also very low (probably
modified by the ammonia contamination) and the wind was from the South-West. For
the next eleven days the wind was predominantly from a Northerly direction and the
results appeared satisfactory, thereby indicating that the source of the contamination
was somewhere to the South of the instrument.
Towards the end of the month a discarded absorbtion type refrigerator was found
dumped in a garden some 150 yards South from the instrument, and although the wind
had returned to a South-Westerly direction, the titration results remained normal.
It is reasonable to postulate that the refrigerator had been gradually leaking
ammonia (no doubt the reason for it being dumped) and while the wind remained in
the Southern quarter, this was sufficient to affect the instrument. Presumably by the
time the refrigerator was discovered all the gas had leaked away.
4. OFFICES, SHOPS AND RAILWAY PREMISES ACT, 1963
Under the provisions of the Act, which came into force in 1964, standards are set
for the health, welfare and safety of employees in offices, shops and railway premises.
The principal matters on which standards are laid down relate to cleanliness—overcrowding—temperature—ventilation—lighting—sanitary
accommodation—seats
for sedentary work—first aid facilities—safety and operation of machinery—fire
precautions.
All office employees are within the scope of the Act whether they work in separate
office buildings or in offices forming part of other buildings (e.g. schools, factories,
hotels, etc.). Shops are widely defined to include wholesale and retail trade premises,
restaurants, laundrettes, dry-cleaning receiving premises and fuel storage depots.
The Act does not apply to premises (a) in which only self-employed persons work,
or (b) used for "family businesses", i.e. in which no-one is employed other than close
relatives of the employer, or (c) in which the total time worked by employees is less
than 21 hours weekly.
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