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PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY SERVICE
(Table 41)
Bacteriological specimens (swabs from sore throats, faeces from intestinal infections, cough plates and
post natal swabs from whooping cough cases, etc.) are examined by the Public Health Laboratory Service
at the Public Health Laboratory at Neasden Hospital or Central Middlesex Hospital.
Specimens delivered to the Health and Welfare Department and the Health Clinics were collected
and taken to the Laboratory at 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, and water are sent by Public Health Inspectors.
The percentage of ice cream samples graded three or four showed a reduction compared with last
year.
The number of swimming bath water samples reported as being below the very high standard
normally achieved also showed a reduction compared with last year.
Early in 1970 all specimens and samples of milk, etc., will be examined at the Public Health Laboratory
at Central Middlesex Hospital only as the Neasden Hospital Laboratory will be closed down.
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,
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.
166 were employed during the year, the largest number (103) altering and making clothing. Public Health
Inspectors inspected these workers' homes, which were all found to be satisfactory (Table 44).
NOISE NUISANCE
Public Health Inspectors made 864 visits (including 15 at night) under the Noise Abatement Act,
1960 and the Public Health Act, 1963, in connection with 191 complaints of nuisance caused by noise or
vibration from factory processes, launderettes, compressors, noisy animals, commercial deliveries and ice
cream vendors.
Of the complaints received, 77 were in respect of industrial premises, 70 in respect of commercial
premises (including ice cream vendors) and 44 domestic. 171 nuisances were abated, and one was still being
dealt with at the end of the year.
An ice cream vendor was prosecuted for contravening Section 2 of the Noise Abatement Act. He
was convicted and fined £5 with £2.2.0 costs.
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 Act does not cover the re-making of an article, and consequently the
standards of quality and cleanliness do not apply to articles being repaired.
During the year, two new businesses were registered and one registered business was discontinued
leaving eight premises on the register, two of which are outworkers premises.
Three samples were taken during the year, the results of which were satisfactory.
OFFICES, SHOPS AND RAILWAY PREMISES ACT, 1963
The Act came into force on the 1st August, 1964 and with certain exceptions applies to retail shops,
offices, wholesale premises and warehouses, catering establishments and canteens, fuel storage depots and
certain railway premises. The exceptions are premises where 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.
Employers are required to register their premises and the number registered during the year together
with the number of persons employed is shown in Table 45.
Public Health Inspectors are broadly speaking responsible for enforcing the general provisions of
the Act in offices, food shops, wholesale premises and warehouses, catering establishments open to the public
and canteens in the Borough. The remainder of premises for which the Council is responsible are inspected
by the Shops Inspectors. The total number of general inspections made is shown in Table 46 and the defects
found and remedied in Table 47.
As the contraventions found were either complied with or were being dealt with, no prosecutions
were instituted by the Council during 1969.