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In supermarkets the checkers-out are usually in a particularly vulnerable position
adjoining doors constantly being opened. A little more thought on this problem in the
initial planning stages might ensure a more reasonable working temperature for these
employees.
Ventilation
Perhaps predictably the long warm and humid summer produced the biggest crop
of complaints about ventilation in shops. Last year's report recorded the tendency to
overlook ventilation needs in the modernising of shops. These omissions came home to
roost last summer.
In one instance a corner-sited shop with two all-glass walls recorded one hot
afternoon an internal temperature of 96°F.
The question of what constitutes provision for effective ventilation, in the absence
of any standards, is a recurring problem. It was claimed in the case of a shop which
had no provision for ventilation at all that doors at back and front, frequently opened
by staff and customers respectively, were entirely adequate to ventilate the shop. This
claim appeared to be supported by the staff. One is constantly astonished at the extent
to which people prefer to live and work in a "fug".
It has become, more than once, necessary to point out that the provision of a single
aperture somewhere in a premises does not, as a rule, constitute effective ventilation.
One is obliged to emphasise that the Act requires "the circulation of adequate supplies
of fresh air" and that this therefore assumes the existence of both an inlet and an outlet
between which a flow of air must be maintained.
Washing Facilities
Perseverance and patience are both qualities much to be desired in the public
service and they do, on occasion, bring their reward. Just such an instance is the case
of the small shop in Richmond which was first registered and inspected in July 1964
when it was found that there waa an absence of hot water supply. This omission was
duly pointed out to the occupiers ( a Cleaner's receiving depot). Unfortunately the
business closed in December 1964 before the hot water had been installed. It re-opened
again in March 1966 as a handbag and accessories shop still without a hot water supply.
A notification of the contravention went to the new employer. The hot water was still
not flowing when the business closed after several months. Once again it re-opened in
December 1967 this time as a Boutique still without the hot water. The matter was
now passed to the Court and a conviction obtained but not hot water as the business
closed down shortly afterwards in October 1968. It re-opened as another Boutique in
March 1969 the hot water supply still being noticeably absent. To use a current cliche
we were back to square one and once again the official procedure began. In November
1969 — just 5 years and 4 months after the initial inspection the official was able,
triumphantly, if wearily, to record "Running hot water supplied".
Hoists and Lifts Regulations
These new Regulations, operative from May 28th, 1969, have introduced a new
technicality into the administration of the Act. The effect of the Regulations on premises
where passenger and goods lifts have been regularly inspected to meet insurer's
requirements has been minimal. They have, perhaps, placed heavier responsibility upon
the lift engineers carrying out the inspections and have undoubtedly put considerable
authority into their hands in that their recommendations or requirements are bound
to be accepted unreservedly.
In one area the Regulations have produced an unexpectedly large problem viz: in
numbers of public houses and off licence premises, where hand operated crate hoists
are used between cellar and bar or shop, there is no exemption to the enclosure of the
liftway. In almost all cases the hoists have been open and brewery companies have now
found themselves required to carry out a good deal of enclosure work.
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