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SHOPS ACT, 19 50
SECTION 38 (Sanitary and other arrangements in shops). Section 18 of the
London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1958, with effect from the
1st January, 1959 transferred to Metropolitan Borough Councils responsibility
for enforcing certain of the provisions of the Act previously enforced by the
County Council, and the Borough Councils are now responsible for all the
provisions of Section 38. as follows:-
Provision and maintenance of -
(a) suitable and sufficient means of ventilation;
(b) reasonable temperature;
(c) suitable and sufficient sanitary conveniences,
(d) suitable and sufficient means of lighting;
(e) suitable and sufficient washing facilities;
(f) suitable and sufficient facilities for the taking of meals.
No contraventions were reported, and at the end of the year exemption
certificates relating to sanitary accommodation continued in operation in
respect of ten premises.
OFFICES ACT, 1960
The purpose of this Act, which received the Royal Assent on the 29th July,
1960, and comes into operation on the 1st January, 1962 is to make further
and better provisions for health, welfare and safety in offices. The main
provisions of the Act may be summarised as follows:-
SECTION 1 (Regulations for securing health, safety and welfare of persons
employed in offices) empowers the Secretary of State to make regulations
specifying the standards as to structure, arrangement and operation to be
applied in offices for the protection of the health, safety and welfare of
persons employed therein, and. in particular -
(a) for the provision of sufficient and suitable sanitary conveniences
with separate accommodation for persons of each sex;
(b) for the provision of adequate and suitable facilities for washing
which shall include hot and cold water and soap and clean towels or
other suitable means of cleaning and drying.
(c) for the prevention of overcrowding,
(d) for the provision of sufficient and suitable lighting in every part
of the premises in which persons are working or passing;
(e) for the provision of a standard of reasonable temperature;
(f) for the provision of effective and suitable methods of maintaining
adequate ventilation;
(g) for the provision of adequate and suitable accommodation for clothing
not worn by employees during working hours;
(h) for ensuring that all offices shall be kept clean;
(i) to provide for efficient means of escape in the event of fire;
(j) to ensure the provision of adequate supplies of drinking water;
(k) for the maintenance of adequate and suitable first-aid equipment;
(1) for the regular inspection and maintenance of electrical equipment;
(m) to provide for the fencing of dangerous parts of any machinery or
equipment used in offices.