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has to be made for the inevitable delays experienced by companies
in obtaining services of contractors to carry out the necessary works.
Apart from the inevitable loss of thermometers and abstracts,
depletion of the contents of the First Aid boxes and lack of cleanliness
to parts of some shop premises. I find that broken and worn floors,
and floor coverings, and staircase and gangway obstruction to be the
most common form of contravention. It is becoming increasingly
necessary to request occupiers to deal effectively with very slippery
floors, which are the result of the use of industrial polishing machines
and some types of polish.
Steps and ladders in all types of registered premises are still
given particular attention and informal advice is given when they are
found to be faulty.
An increase in the use of print machines and copiers has led to
more ammonia being employed and stored on premises and because
of this it has been necessary at times to request additional mechanical
ventilation, notwithstanding the fact that machines themselves have
ducting and extraction equipment.
Mechanical Handling.
The increased use of fork lift trucks does not appear to create
any particular problems, so long as good floor surfaces are provided
in warehouses and adjacent yards, thereby forming a good basis for
safety in mechanical handling. The repair or re-surfacing of floors
minimises the danger factor and has the advantage of reducing damage
to fork lifts and the commodities they handle.
Hoists and Lifts.
Substantial progress is now being made towards compliance with
the requirements of the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises (Hoists
and Lifts) Regulations, 1968. There is, however, considerable delay
experienced where manual lift service lifts are concerned, due to the
very heavy demand for lift mechanics and the necessity to ensure that
repairs to passenger lifts and mechanical goods lifts must receive
priority.
A short course on Hoists and Lifts was attended by an Inspector
during the latter part of the year. Knowledge gained during this
course will be very useful in the interpretation and administration of
the Regulations.
Prosecutions.
No legal proceedings were instituted during the year, although in
some instances it became necessary to warn firms of the risk of prosecution.
Accidents.
No reports of serious accidents were made during the year and
the total number of accidents reported (39) is about average. As in
previous years, all accidents reported are investigated.
Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949.
The following summarises a report on rodent control work made
to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for the year ended
31st December, 1972:—
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