View report page

24
Homogenised milk is pasteurised milk which has been subjected to homogenisation (a process of
breaking up the fat to form an emulsion). Samples must pass the methylene blue and phosphatase tests.
REGISTRATION OF HAWKERS
Hawkers of food, and premises used by them for storage accommodation, must be registered with
the Council (Section 11 of the Middlesex County Council Act, 1950).
One hundred and thirty-four hawkers are registered (40 sell fruit and vegetables, 40 have mobile
canteens and hot dog stalls, 31 sell ice-cream, 7 fish, 3 cooked poultry, 3 groceries, 7 fish and chips, 1 meat,
fish and vegetables, 1 bread and confectionery and 1 milk drinks). There were 8 new registrations during the
year.
Some hawkers are also licensed street traders at fixed sites. The majority are itinerant, and
appear in the Borough only when events of national or international importance take place at Wembley
Stadium and the Empire Pool. At such times there is an influx of unregistered hawkers who cause problems
relating to the hygienic handling of food commodities. There now appears to be a number of depots in
London from which individuals can hire hot dog trollies under contractural conditions, which vary, as for
example, sales on a commission basis, renting the vending vehicle, or as employees of the owner. Consequently
there are difficulties in establishing ownership when infringements of the Regulations are found and the
problem of false information with regard to names and addresses persists.
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 30 and 31.
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. One hundred and seventeen 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 be satisfactory
(Table 32).
NOISE NUISANCE
Complaints of noise nuisances are dealt with by the Public Health Inspectors under the Noise Abatement
Act, 1960, and the Public Health Act, 1936.
During the year, 1,019 visits were made by the Inspectors in connection with noise complaints. Many
of these involved visits at night and during the week-end and on a number of occasions inspectors were
involved throughout the whole of the night.
The construction of the Neasden Underpass was the biggest single problem in this field. Many
observations were made and noise level readings were taken throughout the twenty-four hours to establish
mean background levels as well as nuisance peaks. As a result of representations made by the department,
the main contractors changed some of their major equipment and installed silent operating pile drivers.
Work is still continuing and is still being kept under observation.
RAG FLOCK AND OTHER FILLING MATERIALS ACT, 1951
The Rag Flock and Other Filling Materials Act, 1951 and Regulations of 1971 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. Eight business premises were on the
register at the end of the year. Five samples were obtained 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, catering establishments, canteens, fuel storage depots. and certain railway premises.
The exceptions are premises used by self-employed persons, premises in which only near relatives are employed,
and other premises where not more than 21 man hours weekly are normally worked.
The number of premises newly registered during the year, the total number of registered premises
at the end of the year, and the number of persons employed are shown in Table 33.
Public Health Inspectors are principally responsible for enforcing the general provisions of the Act
in offices, food shops, catering establishments open to the public, canteens, wholesale premises and warehouses.
Other premises are inspected by the Shops Inspectors. The total number of general inspections and visits of all
kinds are shown in Table 34.