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44
FACTORY AND WORKSHOPS ACT, 1901.
Under this Act, which came into operation on January 1st, 1902,
important and increased duties have been imposed on Sanitary
Authorities, and the Medical Officer of Health is required to report on
the administration of the Act, so far as the administration is in the
hands of the District Council.
The duties imposed by the Act, relate to Factories, Workshops
and Workplaces.
Laundries do not come within the definitions of Factory and
Workshop, but under Section 108 of the Act, they are so far as sanitation
and means of escape from fire are concerned, to be treated as
Factories if mechanical power is used; if mechanical power is not used,
as Workshops.
Factories and Workshops are defined in the Act, but not Workplaces,
but the latter are supposed to include such places as kitchens of restaurants
and livery stable yards.
In the case of Factories the Council is charged with the duty of
seeing that every "factory" in its district is provided with the means of
escape in the case of fire. This matter I have brought before the
Sanitary Committee, and that duty was imposed on the Surveyor, and I
believe carried out In company with Mr. West, I have visited the
Factories in your district, and saw that the requirements of Section 22
of the Public Health Amendment Act were carried out, and suitable
sanitary conveniences were provided.
Workshops and Workplaces.-—The number of these premises
on the register under the Act, at the close of the year, was 348 domestic
workshops, 47 laundries, 51 retail bakehouses, and 55 other premises.
The duties imposed in regard to these are classified under four
headings, viz.:—
1. Sanitary condition of workshops and workplaces generally.
2. Provision of means of escape from fire.
3. Special sanitary regulations for bakehouses.
4. Homework.
No. 1. Sanitary conditions include—(a) the cleanliness, (b) the air
space, (c) ventilation, and (d) drainage of floors of workshops and workplaces
where women are employed.