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don, the enforcement of the requirements in Section 22 of that
Act, as to the provision of suitable and sufficient sanitary conveniences,
rests with the local authority, but the factory inspector
is responsible for the sanitary conditions, which include cleanliness,
air space, ventilation, drainage of floors, etc.
WORKSHOPS AND WORKPLACES.
With regard to workshops and workplaces, District Councils
have important duties, which may be classified under four heads.
—(1) General sanitation ; (2) provision of means of escape from
fire ; (3) special sanitary regulations for bakehouses ; (4) homework.
1.—Sanitation.—This included cleanliness, air space, ventilation,
drainage of floors, and sanitary accommodation. The
general provisions regarding ventilation are supplemented in the
case of workshops by a special requirement, introduced for the
first time by this Act, requiring that in every room in a workshop
sufficient means of ventilation must be provided and maintained,
and where a standard of ventilation has been prescribed by the
Secretary of State (as he has power to do) for any class of workshops,
that standard must be observed. Drainage of floors is a
new provision, and requires that in every workshop, in which any
process is carried on which renders the floor liable to be wet to
such an extent that the wet can be removed by drainage, adequate
means shall be provided.
These last two provisions, viz., ventilation and drainage of
floors, do not apply to workshops where men only are employed.
Respecting sanitary accommodation, where Part III of the Public
Health Amendment Act, 1890, has been adopted, every workshop
or manufactory, or where persons are employed in any trade or
business, must be provided with sufficient and suitable accommodation
in the way of sanitary conveniences. The Home Secretary
has recently circulated draft of an order under Section q of the
Act, showing what sanitary accommodation will be deemed suitable
and sufficient.
2.—Fire Escape.—These provisions are similar to those required
in factories where more than 40 persons are employed.
3.—Bakehouses.—In addition to the provisions as regards
bakehouses hitherto enforced, the following new duties are placed
by Section 101 on District Councils with respect to underground
bakehouses: —