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It will be noted that there is in all cases a progressive drop in the level of pollution
over the five 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
Registration and Inspection.
The Act is now so well known that failure to register premises has become a rare
occurrence.
New registrations were 12½% of total registered premises and about 75% of all
registered premises received a general inspection and certain parts of premises subject
to heavy wear on floor and stairs received a second inspection. Re-inspection following
contraventions account for a high percentage of visits. It is pleasing to report that the
readiness of employers to remedy any defects notified is generally good and in only a
small number of cases is there lack of ready co-operation.
Special attention this year was given to floor coverings and stairs in an endeavour
to reduce this risk of injury.

Operation of the General Provisions of the Act.
1. Overcrowding.
This is not a problem which has arisen during the year.
One aspect is perhaps worthy of mention. In restaurants and cafes every effort
is made to provide the maximum space for the public and the kitchens frequently suffer
in consequence. One newly renovated restaurant provided what appeared to be an
adequate size of room for the kitchen, but filled it so full of the latest and most
admirable equipment to freeze, sterilize, fry, grill, steam, cook and prepare food and
to clean utensils that the staff found themselves squeezed into narrow areas and gangways
with scarcely sufficient room to do their work.
2. Temperature.
Few complaints received. The situation is generally satisfactory.
One unusual problem arose from the use by a hardware retailer of oil'fueled
convection heaters. These stood in the shop, which is of the open plan self-service type,
and were indistinguishable from the same products on display for sale —- until they
were touched and found to be hot. A complaint was received by a customer that a
small child had received a painful shock and made the valid point that even adults
would have been unable to detect by sight that the heater was in use. Section 22 of
the Act which, inter alia, creates an offence in respect of appliances which are injurious
to health or create a risk of bodily injury appeared to be relevant and the shop manager
agreed to provide an adequate guard and in each case added a warning notice.
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