View report page

49
1. It makes a welcome break after being confined behind the shop
counter all the morning.
2. It ensures that the full statutory interval for meals is received.
3. It is possible to do any necessary personal shopping.
In shops where the assistant wishes to have a meal on the premises, there
is usually a room or a private space for this purpose, but there are seldom
adequate means for cooking a meal. In many cases the only heating appliance
is a gas ring. Some assistants have ready cooked meals sent in from nearby
cafes.
In most shops a tea break of 10 minutes is allowed morning and afternoon.
Conclusions
Conditions in shops generally have improved during recent years, but many
improvements are still desirable.
(1) Any future industrial health service should be extended to include
supervision of the health of the shop assistant.
(2) Research is needed in investigating the special stresses of a shop
assistant's life, e.g. fatigue and causes of breakdowns in health.
(3) In shops engaged in the handling and preparation of food, continuous
effort should be made to educate management and the food handler in
the principles of food hygiene.
(4) Means should be available for voluntary periodic health overhauls of
shop enployees.
Shops, Sunmary of Trades carried on
Art Needlework Dealers 14
Athletic Outfitters 4
Bakers and Confectioners 61
Bird Fanciers 5
Booksellers 29
Boot and shoe Dealers 56
Boot Repairers 76
Builders Merchants 36
Butchers 99
Cats Meat Dealers 6
Chemists 39
China, Glass and Hardware 37
Clothiers and Outfitters 32