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matter for which we should take some initiative and
facilities for identification were made available at council
offices and the local police station. In cases where the
jewellery was identified as being constructed of these
seeds, the owners were able to surrender them to us and
their safe disposal was arranged.
This exercise was aided by the council press officer and
a press release on the subject. This approach is found
extremely useful in reaching members of the public upon
matters which may require advice.
Imported food
Slightly fewer notifications were received of imported food
for port health clearance than in the previous year largely
due to a change in marketing by one large food group.
52 notifications were received consigned to 9 premises
amounting to:
Tinned foods 90,905 cartons
Bagged foods 2,218 sacks
Drums 528 drums
Frozen food 1,232 cartons
79 samples were examined 71 of which were satisfactory
but 6 labelling irregularities were rectified and samples from
2 consignments resulted in a cessation of imports until the
quality of the ingredients were improved.
Exported food
There are several manufacturers of foodstuffs in the
borough who regularly export food and many countries
require certificates of purity to accompany each
consignment. There are signed by the Chief Public Health
Inspector and recorded at the Board of Trade to accompany
export licences. Close quality control of these products is
carried out supplemented by regular sampling and inspection
inspection of the premises by the department.
During the year 58 such certificates were signed
representing the products of three companies relating to:—
6,426 cases of biscuits
662 cases of peanuts
1,007 cases of spirits
and a quantity of food colour.
Clean Air Acts 1956 and 1968
Smoke control areas
This is probably the last comment which will need to be
made on the subject of smoke control areas as during the
year the last four smoke control areas came into
operation. The value of the council's work on this subject
is readily appreciated by the public of Hounslow and has
probably been a major contributory factor to the reduction
in days lost to flying at Heathrow because of fog. Also
because of the situation of Hounslow in relation to London
and the prevailing winds, the benefit of the Council's
positive action has affected considerable numbers of
people living beyond the borough boundary.
The effect of the smoke control orders also prohibits
the sale of non authorised fuels. During the year a
number of warnings were issued to vendors on this matter
but no legal proceedings have been instituted.
Furnaces
Consideration has been given by the department to 9
notifications of intention to install a new furnace. All were
considered to be satisfactory.
Chimney heights
Following application for approval of chimney height,
7 examinations of plans were carried out to determine that
the effluent from the chimney would not be a nuisance.
This required an assessment of the fuels to be used and the
type of furnace involved together with an inspection of
adjacent buildings. All were finally approved.
Bonfires
The majority of complaints concerning smoke, relate to
bonfires. It is surprising that as we live in such close
proximity to our neighbours, there is so much lack of
consideration for others. The garden bonfires are only a
part of this problem, scrap metal dealers burning cars and
cable, demolition contractors demolishing buildings and
the burning of tree cuttings all tend to nullify the council's
efforts of smoke control areas and pollute the air we all
breathe.
During the year 161 complaints were received and
investigated.
Factories Act 1961
The statistical details required by the Secretary of State
for employment are set out in table 20. Again it will
be observed that only a small proportion of the factories
within the borough have received an inspection during the
year.
Offices Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963
Again the number of visits under this legislation has
dropped. The total number of visits of all kins in 1970 was
4069; 1971 — 507 visits and 1972 the number was 500 of
which 110 visits were investigating accidents.
Table 19 in the appendix provides the statistical
information associated with this work.
The inspections revealed a number of contraventions of
the legislation most of which were rectified by informal
action. There were no prosecutions instituted of which the
hearing was completed during the year. There were no
exemptions outstanding or granted to the requirements of
the act.
It is disappointing to record an increase of 29 in the
total number of accidents notified during the year bringing
the total to 96. The greatest number of accidents to males
occurred in wholesale shops or warehouses whilst the
females mainly suffered in retail shops.
An analysis of the accident cases reported is as follows:—
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