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3.1 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
One of the tasks of the Occupational Health Team within the Environmental Health
Division is to concern iteself with health, welfare and safety conditions in more than
2,400 commercial and industrial premises throughout the Borough where people are
employed.
These premises are visited as a matter of routine. The pattern of trading and of
employment is changing continuously and as an example 235 new registrations of
offices and shops were recorded during 1972.
3.2 OFFICES. SHOPS AND RAILWAY PREMISES ACT 1963

375 informal notices were served in relation to non-compliance with regulations made
under the Act. An indication of the unsatisfactory conditions found is set out at the
end of this section - appendix 3.a.
3.3 ACCIDENTS REPORTED
62 accidents were reported in accordance with the requirements of the Act. In only
14 cases was it considered necessary for an Inspector to investigate the circumstances
of the accidents and advice was given in respect of one accident which had occurred
at retailer premises. An analysis of the reported accidents is set out in appendices
3.b. and 3.c.
3.4 OFFICES, SHOPS AND RAILWAY PREMISES (LIFTS AND HOISTS) REGULATIONS
1968
During the year special attention was given to the Local Authority's responsibilities in
connection with the safety of lifts and hoists in various commercial premises throughout
the Borough. 9 notices were served on occupiers of premises in respect of unsatisfactory
conditions and 5 notices were complied during 1972.
Form 54, which requires that a certificate of a competent person who has inspected the
lift be sent to the Local Authority within 28 days of the inspection whenever defects
are found, is not always received. Frequently forms are incorrectly completed, so that an
Inspector is unaware of the defects that have been drawn to owners attentions during the
course of the official inspection of the lift or hoist. A further difficulty arises because the
regulations do not require that the certificate should be kept on the actual premises where
the lift or hoist is situated.
3.5 FACTORIES ACT 1961
The inspection in respect of the health provisions at factories and at out-workers premises
is another routine task which is carried out without the need to report frequently to the
Health and Housing Committee as all of the infringements found have been dealt with in
an informal manner. An indication of the number of premises on the register, of the
inspections carried out and of the defects found are set out in appendices 3.d and 3.e and
an indication of the number of out-workers in the Borough in appendix 3.f.
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