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71
The requirements laid down in my 1902 Report, under Section 101,
and carried out, have made the six underground premises perfectly
satisfactory, as regards lighting, ventilation and in all other respects.
All the bakehouses have been regularly visited during the year, and
the statutory cleansing carried out, besides special cleansing in five
cases ; other defects found were of a minor character.
Outworkers' Premises.—These consist mainly of one or two
rooms of the dwelling-house, used as a workplace, and were generally
found very satisfactory, and only a very small percentage of defects
were found.
Air Space.—In three instances overcrowding was found and abated.
Cleanliness and Ventilation.—In six instances the entire
premises were cleansed, and in eleven partial cleansing was found
necessary, and effected.
Suitable and Sufficient Sanitary Conveniences existed
in all the premises, and the w.c. flush was improved in three houses.
Home Work.—Under this heading, power is given to your
Authority for controlling the conditions under which certain classes of
work are done in the workers' homes.
In Sections 107 to 115 powers are given for the prevention of home
work being done in (a) unhealthy dwellings; (b) in premises where
there is dangerous infectious disease.
Under Unwholesome Dwellings, that is, from insanitary
conditions, want of ventilation, or overcrowding, action was taken, as
above recorded.
Infectious Dwellings.—Under this heading, an important and
useful work is prescribed by the Act, but to carry it out, an everchanging
register has to be kept.
In houses—four—where dangerous infectious disease showed itself,
the employers of the outworkers were notified immediately, and no
further work was taken in until the premises were free from infection.
The clothing before its return was disinfected, and the Medical Officer
of Health for the district whence it came was also made aware of the
circumstances.
Every medical practitioner attending a case of anthrax, lead
poisoning, phosphorus, arsenical and mercurial poisoning, is
bound to notify the same to the Chief Inspector of Factories
at the Home Office.