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36
PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY SERVICE
(Table 41)
Bacteriological specimens (swabs from sore throats, faeces from intestinal infections, cough plates
and post-nasal swabs from whooping cough cases, etc.) are examined by the Public Health Laboratory Service
at the Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale, and at the branch laboratory at Neasden Hospital.
Specimens delivered to the Health and Welfare Department and the Health Clinics are collected and
taken to the laboratory as Neasden Hospital. A report by telephone is given to the doctor as soon as possible,
followed by a written report.
Samples of milk, ice-cream, containers and water are sent by public health inspectors.
The percentage of ice-cream samples graded 3 or 4 showed a reduction from last year. The inadequate
cleansing of ice-cream churns revealed by bacteriological examination has been the subject of improvement.
The number of swimming bath water samples reported as being below the very high standard
normally achieved, was greater than last year, but the majority occurred during a short period early in the
year and were followed by satisfactory conditions for the rest of the season.
FACTORY INSPECTION
The Council supervise sanitary conveniences in all factories and in addition, cleanliness, overcrowding,
temperature, ventilation and drainage of floors in non-power factories. Details of inspections and notices served,
defects found and remedied, are given in Tables 42 and 43.
BASEMENT BAKEHOUSE
There is one basement bakehouse in the Borough.
OUTWORKERS AND HOMEWORKERS
In February and August of each year, factory owners send to the local authority lists of names and
addresses of all persons who have worked at home for them during the previous six months on certain jobs.
145 were employed during the year, the largest number (93) altering and making clothing. Public Health
Inspectors inspected these workers' homes, which were all found to me satisfactory (Table 44).
NOISE NUISANCE
The Borough Council deals with noise nuisances under the Noise Abatement Act, 1960. It provides
that noise and vibration which are nuisances are offences under the Public Health Act, 1936.
Public Health Inspectors made 1,111 day and 10 night observations to determine whether complaints
of noise nuisance were justified or not. 193 complaints were received during the year of which 58 were in
respect of noise from industrial premises, 72 in respect of commercial premises and 63 domestic. 169 nuisances
were abated and 2 were still being dealt with at the end of the year.
The noises objected to by complainants were wide and varied, and included those from factory processes,
car delivery and repairs, unloading of milk churns, road breakers and compressors, launderettes, and
inconsiderate neighbours.
RAG FLOCK AND OTHER FILLING MATERIALS ACT, 1951
The Rag Flock and Other Filling Materials Act, 1951, and Regulations of 1961, specify standards
of quality and cleanliness for certain filling materials which are used in the manufacture of upholstered
articles. Premises in which such materials are manufactured must be registered with the Council, and premises
which are used for storage of such materials only must be licensed by the Council.
Premises where the business of upholstering, stuffing or lining of bedding, toys and baby carriages
is carried on must be registered, the statutory fee being £1.0.0d. The Act does not cover the remaking of an
article, and consequently the standards of quality and cleanliness do not apply to articles being repaired.
There are seven premises on the register, three of which are outworkers undertaking work for one
of the registered premises.
The result of a repeat sample of new pure curled hair which was still outstanding at the end of
the previous year revealed a problem relating to the tests made on these samples. After correspondence with
the manufacturers and the Retail Trading Standards Association concerning the failure of repeated samples
to meet the requirements of the Regulations, the Association stated that the materials used to assess total
and/or soluble extracted matter may under certain circumstances extract substances which are not dirty, or
impurities.
The Prescribed Analyst states that the samples of curled hair would be regarded as clean by a reasonable
person, but due to processing variations, an artificially high total extracted matter resulted.
Two samples have been taken during the year, the results of which were satisfactory.
OFFICES, SHOPS & RAILWAY PREMISES ACT, 1963
The Act came into force on the 1st August, 1964, and with certain exceptions applies to retail shops,
wholesale premises and warehouses, catering establishments and canteens, fuel storage depots and certain
railway premises. The exceptions are premises were only self-employed persons work, businesses in which only
immediate relatives of the employer are employed and other premises where not more than 21 man hours
weekly are normally worked.