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58
FACTORIES AND OUTWORK
Factories Act, 1937
Responsibility for enforcing the provisions of the Factories Act
devolves in the main on Her Majesty's Inspector of Factories. The
duties of district councils are limited to dealing with the provisions
relating to cleanliness, overcrowding, temperature, drainage of floors
and sanitary conveniences in the case of nonpower factories; sanitary
conveniences only in the case of power factories, and the provisions of
the Act relating to outwork.
Of the 1,498 factories on the register at the end of the year,
1,377 were power factories and 121 non-power factories. The number of
inspections made totalled 1,198 and action was necessary as follows:-
SECTION 1 (Cleanliness). Two notices were served under this section,
both of which were complied with,
SECTION 7 (Sanitary conveniences). In 87 cases unsuitable or
defective sanitary conveniences were discovered. Legal proceedings
were taken in one case of failure to keep water closets clean and
effectively lighted, and a fine of £5 with 5 guineas costs was imposed.
SECTION 54 (Basement Bakehouses). On the 31st December certificates
of suitability granted under the provisions of this Act were in
operation in respect of the following 12 basement bakehouses:-
239 Amhurst Road
36 Chatsworth Road
94 Chatsworth Road
72 Dalston Lane
178 Dalston Lane
219 Glyn Road
The number of inspections of
167 Homerton High Street
71 Lower Clapton Road
200 Lower Clapton Road
33 Rectory Road
18 Upper Clapton Road
186 Well Street
these bakehouses totalled 56.
SECTION 114 (Posting of abstract of Act and notices). Three
instances of failure to exhibit in a factory a copy of the prescribed
abstract of the provisions of the Act were reported, and as required by
Section 128 notifications of the contravention were sent to H.M.
Inspector of Factories.
HOME WORK - OUTWORKERS. SECTION 110 (Lists of outworkers to
be kept in certain trades). The lists received in August showed there
were 118 firms in the borough employing outworkers, and the premises of
1,571 outworkers were recorded, close on 50 per cent. of these outworkers
were employed by firms from outside the borough. The inspection
of outworkers' premises is undertaken by the district public health
inspectors, who visited 883 premises.