View report page

FOOD HYGIENE (GENERAL) REGULATIONS 1960/62
During the early part of each year the Board of Trade carry out a survey of passenger-carrying
launches on the River Thames. The operators take this opportunity to make repairs, to renew
fittings and to throughly clean and repaint the launches. Fresh water storage tanks are cleaned
and, together with the distribution systems, are chlorinated prior to use. Throughout the season
the operators endeavour to maintain the high standard attained at the time of the annual refit.
Inspections of these craft are carried out regularly during the season. The standard of food
hygiene, both on the launches and in the catering establishments supplying them with food,
continues to be highly satisfactory.
The service provided by a thirty-five year old paddle steamer to the estuary towns has been
discontinued.
In the latter part of the year a passenger carrying catamaran arrived on the river. This
craft will commence operating in the summer of 1969. During the year 88 inspections under the
Regulatipns were carried out. Minor infringements were corrected at the time of the visit.
CYANIDE INCIDENT AT NO. 6, KING GEORGE V DOCK
An accident occurred during the loading of drums of sodium cyanide into a ship's hold from
a lighter. Fourteen drums fell into a second lighter loaded with crated machinery lying astern
of the ship and two drums fell into the dock after bouncing off a nearby dolphin. A number of
the drums which fell into the lighter burst on impact, spilling their contents over the crates and
it was assumed that the two which fell into the dock were also fractured, as they sank after
floating for some time.
Although this was an industrial rather than a public health matter (except inasmuch as the
dock water was affected), the Public Analyst was immediately consulted and as a result the
Authority were able to re-assure all those concerned that although sodium cyanide is an extremely
dangerous poison if ingested, no chemical reaction takes place by the addition of water (as
opposed to an acid which will produce H.C.N. gas). The Port of London Authority police and
the fire brigade, in full protective clothing, took charge of safety operations and the lighter was
placed at a lay-by berth, sheeted over, and danger notices posted by day with red lamps at night.
The method for the subsequent decontamination of the lighter and contents was agreed upon at a
meeting called by the P.L.A. Police and attended by this Authority's Deputy Medical Officer and
a Senior Port Health Inspector, together with chemists from the shippers of the cyanide. The
chemists duly took charge of the cleansing operation and the disposal of the loose collected
cyanide powder. An Inspector of this Authority was present at various stages, particularly when
the crates of machinery were brushed down and then sheeted over on road transport for conveyance
back to the factory for subsequent disposal.
A Port of London Authority diver sent down at the berth failed to locate the two lost drums.
Five samples of the dock water were taken by the P.L.A. Engineer's Department, the highest
sample contained cyanide to the extent of 1.7 parts per million. With the constant movement of
water and subsequent dilution, this was not considered a hazard.
INCIDENTS INVOLVING RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
During 1968, there was one incident involving radioactive material.
A box which contained a cigarette counting machine, one of five delivered to the dock for
export, had been damaged during handling. The machine incorporated a small radioactive component
of six micro-curies. The Medical Officer of Health, therefore, was notified of the incident
by the Port of London Authority's Traffic Officer in accordance with the Port of London
Authority Standing Instructions.
The machine togther with the radioactive component had not suffered any apparent damage,
but it was returned to the manufacturers for examination.
DOCK WORKERS' AMENITY BLOCKS
Part II of the Docks and "Harbours Act, 1966, which provides for defined welfare amenities
in all major ports, came into operation on the 1st April. The Port of London Authority, as a
result of recommendations of the Devlin Committee in 1965, had however already drawn up plans
and had commenced a phased programme of construction following consultation with employers
and the trade unions.
25