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INTRODUCTION
During the year under review no major new duties were added to
the work of the Environmental Health Section and this has permitted work
to continue over the whole field of duties which have become the
responsibility of the public health inspectors,, These have included the
repairs, closure or demolition of unfit houses, the conditions under which
food is manufactured, prepared or sold and the investigation by inspection
and sampling of the bacteriological and chemical condition of food when
sold and of the water supply,, Steps to measure the pollution of the air
in conjunction with the Warren Spring Laboratory of the Ministry of
Technology have continued, and in this connection it is a matter for regret
that the programme of establishing smoke control areas has, on financial
grounds, been slowed downD It is hoped that circumstances will shortly
permit the work to be resumed without extending the period required to
bring the whole Borough under smoke control orders» The condition of
premises in which people are employed, such as factories, offices and shops,
has continued to be a major part of the section's work; numerous inspections
have been made and improvements effected,.
Under the supervision of the public health inspectors the rodent
control staff have investigated all cases of rat and mouse infestation
brought to the notice of the section and have made surveys to ascertain the
source of such infestations» Complaints of obstructed drains and sewers
have received prompt attention, not only during normal working hours but
also at week-ends and during the evenings, and this service has been very
much appreciatedo
The staff of the section now includes two trainee public health
inspectors who, in addition to receiving theoretical training for six months
in each year of a four-year course at the South East London Technical College,
receive instruction in the practical duties of the office from the qualified
members of the staff* This work is of the greatest importance in view of
the continuing shortage of public health inspectors0 In this connection it
is pleasing to report that despite the general shortage this Authority has
maintained a full establishment.
In addition to the general duties referred to» talks have been given
to local organisations concerning the public health inspectors" duties
generally, including two talks to pupil nurses at Cuddington Hospital.
Details of the work, mainly in statistical form, are set out in the
following pages. The volume of work is considerable and could not have been
achieved without the ready and active co-operation of the other sections of
the Department and the other Departments of the Council.
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