London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Richmond upon Thames 1967

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond upon Thames]

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There are within the Borough five stations where daily measurements of smoke
density and sulphur dioxide are taken. One of these stations is operated by the
Ministry of Technology at the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington and the other
four by the Health Department.

The following short table gives processed yearly average figures so far available for four years:

Year Ended MarchSTATION (results in microgrammes per cubic metre)
Twickenham No. 3Twickenham No. 4Teddington No. 3Barnes No. 1
SmokeSO2SmokeSO2SmokeSO2SmokeSO2
19639818198187107200
1964981518916410016796106
196574140671398115377120
196653111561156110857102

It will be noted that there is in all cases a progressive drop in the level of pollution
over the four years. It might be fairly stated that this would be due, to a great extent,
to the operation of Smoke Control Orders in the Borough area and in adjoining
districts.
4. OFFICES, SHOPS AND RAILWAY PREMISES ACT, 1963
At the 31st December, the Act had been in force for more than three years, and
in that time very satisfactory progress has been made in implementing the improved
standards for the health, welfare and safety of employees in offices, shops and railway
premises.
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.
66

During the year 179 additional premises were registered under the Act and the total number of premises registered and inspected at the end of the year is summarised below:

Total number of registered premises.Number of general inspections during year.
Offices709468
Retail Shops1,1881,022
Wholesale Shops5757
Catering Establishments217125
Fuel Storage Depots51
2,1761,673