View report page

The quay is kept clean during the discharge by sweeping and is again hosed down ready for
the next vessel.
A complete survey of all the 'meat berths' was carried out by your inspectors for the purpose
of deciding what provisions could be made for W.Cs, urinals and wash-hand basins for the use of
food handlers. Following a tour with the P.L.A. Officials the programme of work was agreed.
It is expected that the work will be done in 1962.
Vehicles
The major road hauliers in the Port of London control some 1,351 units of insulated transport,
together with the smaller operators and provincial concerns also using the docks, some 1,500
road vehicles came within the scope of the Regulations. In addition, insulated rail trucks and
lift boxes are operated by British Railways, and the Port of London Authority use 80 rail wagons
of their own for internal meat transport.
The first problem was to prohibit the use of straw in road and rail vehicles the use of which
masked the real condition of the vehicle. Some opposition was encountered from the trade as it
was suggested that straw had its advantages as an insulating material and as a cushion against
rubbing of exposed meat.
To stress the undesirability of straw in proximity to unprotected foodstuffs, bacteriological
samples were drawn. The results are summarised in Table 1. Straw was then prohibited.
A preliminary survey of the road and rail vehicles revealed that the standards were
varied, some vehicles being structurally unsuitable, others in excellent order, and a great many
being between these two extremes. It became apparent that a detailed report would need to be
prepared and a programme of reconstruction agreed with the various companies, this would take
time, but immediate action was taken to turn away all dirty or structurally unsound vehicles at
the meat berths, and this resulted in a steady improvement over the latter part of the year. The
detailed survey has commenced and a full report covering every aspect of the problem will be
submitted.
The Port of London Authority's rail trucks have been the subject of discussions with them
and the present policy is to purchase more modern second hand trucks from British Railways and
to metal line the better of the existing stock.
Equipment
A reasonably high standard of equipment is now in use for the handling of meat cargoes.
Although a standard type of equipment is not used by the stevedoring companies it has been
possible to adapt and improve where necessary to produce hygienic meat nets, tables, bogies
hand trucks, working boards, etc.
A regular cleansing programme has now been instituted.
Personnel
Following the discussions with the Port Employers and the Union representatives of the
employees, experiments have taken place with different types of protective clothing. The hold
worker, the quay worker and the man portering chilled beef each handle meat in a different manner
and consequently require different protective clothing. Those responsible for stevedoring
operations wish to place bulk orders for this clothing and are anxious to be sure that shoulder
coverings, head coverings, aprons and foot coverings are all practicable and acceptable to those
who will wear them. It is proposed therefore that early in 1962 a pilot scheme will be run using
1,000 canvas boots and 600 plastic aprons. Linen shoulder and head coverings are already
standard practice for the chilled meat porter.
Conclusion
The policy of prior consultation and mutual agreement of codes of practice has been gladly
accepted by the shipping and allied industries engaged in handling imported meats and it is the
hope of your officers that the final result will be a credit to the Port.
31