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80
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 non-power factories, and sanitary conveniences only in the case of
power factories; they are also responsible for enforcing the provisions of the
Act relating to outwork.
There were 1,471 factories on the register at the end of the year, of
which 1,350 were power factories and 121 non-power factories. The number of
inspections made totalled 1,353 and action was necessary as follows:-
SECTION 1 (Cleanliness). Two notices were served under this section and
both were complied with.
SECTION 7 (Sanitary conveniences). In 59 cases unsuitable or defective
sanitary conveniences were discovered. Legal proceedings were taken in one
case of failure to keep a sanitary convenience in a proper state of repair
and a fine of £5 with 5 guineas costs was imposed. An appeal against this
conviction was dismissed with costs.
SECTION 54 (Basement Bakehouses) The certificate of suitability granted
in respect of one bakehouse was withdrawn, the use of the premises as a bakehouse
having been discontinued for a period of 12 months. On the 31st December
certificates of suitability granted under the provisions of this Section were
in operation in respect of the following 11 basement bakehouses:-
36 Chatsworth Road 71 Lower Clapton Road
94 Chatsworth Road 200 Lower Clapton Road
72 Dalston Lane 33 Rectory Road
178 Dalston Lane 18 Upper Clapton Road
219 Glyn Road 186 Well Street
167 Homerton High Street
The number of inspections of these bakehouses totalled 46.
SECTION 114 (Posting of abstract of Act and notices). Two 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 hy Section 128 notifications
of the contravention were sent to H.M. Inspector of Factories.
HOME WORK - OUTWORKERS SECTION 110 (Lists of outviorkers- to be kept in
certain trades). The lists received in August showed there were 116 firms in
the borough employing outworkers, and the premises of 2,214 outworkers were
recorded; approximately 50 per cent. of these outworkers were employed hy
firms from outside the borough. The inspection of outworkers' premises is
undertaken by the district public health inspectors, who visited 753 premises.