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Many new occupiers of premises which are subject to the Act are
still unaware of its provisions, especially in regard to notification of
employment of persons and a firmer line may have to be taken in future.
The penalty for neglect of this duty is "a fine not exceeding £20". At
present the offenders are supplied with the necessary form (OSR.l) and
these are usually completed and returned.
91 accidents were notified during the year and all were investigated
by the Senior Public Health Inspector.
Many were found to be due to the injured person's own carelessness,
but two were due to contraventions of the Act and resulted in prosecutions.
Five were due to machinery (bacon slicers etc.) and two to vehicles
(fork lift, trucks etc.). By far the greatest number (34) were due to falls,
19 to handling goods, 16 to hand tools (butchers' knives etc.) and 12 by
striking against or falling objects. One involved burns caused by an
explosion.
It would appear from the notifications received that accidents only
happen to employees of large or multiple firms as the majority of notifications
are received from these firms. This, of course, is not so and an
effort is being mode to have the requirements of Section 48 brought to
the notice of all employers.
So that the reader can judge the wide range of problems involved
under this Act, I append a list of the Circulars issued during the past
year, with brief notes on each.
L.A. Circular 7 — Supplement 14 "Guarding of Belt Conveyors".
This explains the need for guards on the rollers and belts of conveyors
such as are used in warehouses.
L.A. Circular 7 — Supplement 15 "Guarding of Food Slicing Machines".
This explains the problems being met in fitting guards to some of
the existing slicing machines such as are used in grocers shops,
etc.
L.A. Circular 9 — Supplement 5 "Lighting*.
This circular gives guidance to Local Authorities on the amount ol
light which will be accepted as complying with the requirements
of Section 8 for differing conditions of work or situations. A Booklet
entitled "Lighting in O.S. & R. Premises' has since been
issued giving more details of acceptable levels of lighting.
L.A. Circular 9 — Supplement 6 "Noise*.
It was envisaged when the Act was made that experience may