View report page

24
FACTORY AND WORKSHOP ACT.
The preceding tables give a summary of the work done under
this Act during the year.
FACTORIES.
These have been inspected with regard to the means of escape
in case of fire and (under the Public Health Acts Amendment Act)
as to the provision of suitable and sufficient sanitary conveniences.
WORKSHOPS & WORKPLACES.
The condition of these was on the whole fairly satisfactory.
Ventilation is often defective, but is usually due to neglect on the
part of the workers to make use of the means of ventilation
provided, they so often appear to have a quite unnecessary dread
of fresh air.
LAUNDRIES.
Many of the smaller laundries are ordinary dwelling houses
used for this purpose. It is difficult to keep these in a perfectly
satisfactory condition, and the workers are liable to suffer in health
from wet floors, steam, and insufficient ventilation. The larger
laundries specially built or adapted for this work are generally in a
more satisfactory condition.
BAKEHOUSES.
There are 51 on the register and of these 12 are underground.
97 inspections were made, several were dirty or otherwise unsatisfactory,
and orders were given to clean or whitewash. The
majority were clean and well kept.
OUTWORKERS.
These are chiefly women, and the work consists principally in
the manufacture of wearing apparel (blouse, dress, tie-making, etc.)