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120
factory or failing to comply in some small detail. Close liaison
is maintained with the Borough Engineer's Department, and all
plans of new offices and shops are scrutinised to ensure compliance
with the Act.
Air space and means of heating and lighting are normally
satisfactory, but as far as offices are concerned absence of
running hot water is quite common, as is the absence of handrails
to staircases.
The manufacturers of thermometers and first aid kits together
with the abstract printing department of H.M.S.O., must have
experienced a boom following the activities of the Inspectoral
The Inspectors are constantly checking that the necessary
forms of registration have been submitted, and in 'Conformity
with Government policy proceedings have not yet been Institutes
for non-registration.
100 accidents were reported during the year and all were
investigated by one of the Senior inspectors. The large majority
were found to be due to the persons own carelessness.
Seven accidents were due to riachinery, bacon slicers etc.
and two to vehicles (fork lift and patent trucks).
Although contravention of the Act is an offence it is normal
practice to draw the attention of the responsible person to the
matter by informal notice or letter. 148 such notices were
served during the year, and 76 were complied with together
with 45 from the previous year. The apparently large number
outstanding from the present year is due to the fact that a considerable
number of the notices served in the latter part of the
year.
One company was prosecuted for non compliance and on
conviction was fined £16 with £3.3s.0d. costs.
Factories and Workshops
Most of the provisions of the Factory Act are administered
by the Factory Inspector, but the P.H.I.s have three duties in
respect of these premises which receive constant attention.
They are:
(a) the inspection of canteens and food preparing
factories under the Food Hygiene Regulation*.
(b) the approval of new furnace installations and
chimney lengths under the Clean Air Act, and
observations and enforcement of contraventions
from existing chimneys; and