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Under Section 46 of the Act the Council have power to grant an exemption in respect of the requirements
regarding room space for employees, temperature, provision of sanitary conveniences and provision of
running water for washing facilities. No application for exemption from the requirements was made during
the past year. One application was received and granted by the Council for exemption under Section 24 (7)
of the Act from the First Aid provisions as a first aid room manned at all times by a qualified nurse was
provided for the employees.
Employers are required to notify accidents to employees which cause the death of the injured person
or disables him for more than three days from doing his usual work. 54 non-fatal accidents were notified, an
analysis of their causation and injuries sustained is shown in Table 49. 46 of the accidents were investigated;
no prosecutions were instituted, five employers received formal warning, 10 informal advice, with no action
necessary in the remainder.
As the contraventions found were either complied with or were being dealt with, no prosecutions
were instituted by the Council during 1967. In one instance, however, where there was no guard rail to an
opening in the shop floor and the ladder leading from the opening to the basement was in a defective and
dangerous condition with no handrail, the necessary works were carried out just prior to a summary application
being made to the Court.
During the year fully manned first aid rooms were established at Brent Town Hall and Brent House.
In addition a number of officers attended a first aid training course which now enables a fully qualified
member of the staff to be in charge of first aid on each floor of every Council office building.
ESTABLISHMENTS FOR MASSAGE AND SPECIAL TREATMENT
The registration of establishments for massage and special treatment is a function of the Borough
Council under Part XII of the Middlesex County Council Act, 1944.
During the year, 3 new licences were granted and 41 were renewed. All the applicants are suitable
persons to hold licences and their premises were found to be satisfactory.
RODENT CONTROL
Rodent Control, as approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (Infestation Branch) has
been carried out in the properties below:
Business Premises 337
Borough Council Properties 79
Private Dwellings 2,836
Total 3,252
The cost of disinfestation of business premises amounted to £733.1.11d., and was recovered from the
occupiers. The service is free to occupiers of private dwellings.
Rodent Control in the Council's sewers is carried out by the Borough Engineer and Surveyor's
Department. Where surface rat infestation is due to faults in the connections of the house drains with the
sewer, the Borough Engineer and Surveyor's Department arranges for the pavement to the opened. Arising
from complaints of rat infestation, 120 drains were subject to smoke test and in 40 cases notices were served
requiring defects to be remedied.
CONTROL OF WILD PIGEONS
During the year, the ten railway bridges in the Borough, for which there is a contract for the extermination
of pigeons, were kept under surveillance. They were systematically treated and 713 birds were destroyed.
UNCLEANLINESS AND SCABIES
Treatment for scabies, lice and nits has continued at Stonebridge Clinic. As compared with 1966,
there has been a considerable decrease in the number of cases treated for lice and nits (106 in 1966, 39 in 1967).
The number of cases of scabies treated increased from 81 in 1966 to 114 in 1967, the increase being almost
entirely among children aged 5—15 years and adults. However, the numbers treated are still small, and there
is no evidence of a significant increase in the prevalence of this condition among the population.
DISINFESTATION
The Public Health Inspectors inspect verminous premises and supervise the work of disinfectors employed
by the Council (Section 83 of the Public Health Act, 1936) (Table 51).
The Council provide transport for clothing and bedding requiring disinfection and disinfestation
(Section 84 of the Public Health Act, 1936). The Council's employees disinfect and disinfest rooms, and collect
and deliver the clothing and bedding.
The number of verminous premises treated increased from 54 in 1966 to 97 in 1967, but this number
is still very small when considered in relation to the total number of premises in the Borough, and calls for no
special comment. There was a considerable increase in the number of wasps nests treated—69 in 1966, 277
in 1967.
PUBLIC MORTUARY
During the year, post mortem examinations were performed on 861 bodies in the Town Hall Mortuary,
followed by an inquest in 97 cases. All the inquests were held at Finchley.
The Mortuary was constructed in 1959/60 at a cost of £16,300. It contains a refrigerated chamber
for nine bodies and two separate post mortem tables, together with waiting room, viewing room, toilet accommodation
and offices.
A Mortuary Superintendent and a full-time attendant are employed.