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49
Heating and Ventilation
Generally, heating and ventilation appeared to be adequate.
In a small number of factories where the process was relied upon
to supply sufficient heat in the winter the difficulty of keeping
the atmosphere at a reasonable temperature during the summer months
was apparent at the time of the survey, Some effort had already
been made by means of extractor fan systems and ducting to overcome
an overheated atmosphere.
Managerial advice had been given in one instance on the use
of saline drinks to overcome the dehydrating effect of working in
heat for long periods. Advice was also given on the use of coke
stoves and in one case attention was drawn to a defective flue
pipe which constituted a hazard the danger of which had not been
appreci ated.
Sanitary Accommodation
The sanitary accommodation regulations 1938 were in all cases
found to have been complied with. In some factories however where
the minimum requirements were observed the number of w. c s. appeared
to be insufficient.
A number of firms, in which the employees were working with
oil or other substances difficult to remove from the hands supplied
barrier creams or substances such as Swarfega and Rozalex for
removing oil and grease.
Labour Turnover and Absenteeism
As accurate figures would have entailed considerable work on
the part of managements it was thought reasonable to ask only for
a general impression of these two points. With notable exceptions
the answers in the majority of enquiries were 'very low1'. One
firm employing a large number of married women remarked on the
frequent absence of women owing to family and domestic reasons.
Another firm employing elderly female labour stated that the sick
ness rate was Bas could be expected", rather high. Some firms
mentioned that although the labour turnover appeared high this was
due to a quick turnover of a small section whereas a solid core of
workers had been with them for a considerable number of years.
Generally, it appeared that labourers and semi skilled workers
changed their jobs much more frequently than the tradesman and
other skilled worker.