[Report 1964] / Medical Officer of Health, Newmarket U.D.C.

  • Newmarket (England). Urban District Council.
Date:
1964
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1964] / Medical Officer of Health, Newmarket U.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    SHOPS ACT, 1950 Ten inspections were made under the above Act. THE OFFICES, SHOPS AND RAILWAY PREMISES ACT,1963* The Sections of the above Act requiring registration of premises came into operation on the 1st May 1964 and required employers of persons in office, shop or railway premises to register their premises with the appropriate authority by the 31st July 1964. Despite national and local publicity about the coning into operation of the Act and the duty of employers to register, it was found that many employers were unaware of their responsibilities and it was found necessary to inform them by personal approach or by letter. Ninety-one visits were paid to premises concerning registration. The remaining Sections of the Act with one or two minor exceptions come into force on the 1st August 1964* This is a most important Act, a milestone in our social history, which for the first time gives office and shop workers the same measure of protection as regards health, safety and welfare as the industrial worker. Matters covered by the Act include cleanliness of premises, overcrowding, temperature, ventilation, lighting, sanitary conveniences and washing facilities, drinking water, accommodation for clothing, seating facilities, eating facilities, safety of premises, fencing and guarding of machinery, notification of accidents, first-aid and means of escape in case of fire. The Act gives local authorities new duties and many of the provisions bring problems in practise, so much so that the Ministry of Labour has issued twenty-seven circulars and supplements to circulars about the Act and Regulations for the guidance of local authorities. This information has proved most useful in the administration of the Act. The following is a copy of the Annual Report for 1964 made to the Minister of Labours- Table A - Registrations and General Inspections. i Class of Premises. : ! No.of premises[Total No. of j 'I registered ^registered j during year. ^premises at j lend of year j Number of registered \ premises receiving a j general inspection during the year 1 Offices 1 59 I 59 1 - | Retail Shops S 99 99 6 j j Wholesale shops. i i ; j i warehouses 5 I 5 ! — | Catering establishments j open to the public, i canteens 22 22 — j Fuel storage depots | 2 : I 2 — Totals 1 18 7 1 187 6 Table B - Number of visits of all kinds by Inspectors to Registered Premises - 97 Table C - Analysis of Persons employed in Registered Premises by Workplace Class of Workplace No. of persons employed ! Offices • • • • • • • 0 458 ) Total Retail shops .. .. .. .. Wholesale departments, warehouses .. Catering establishments open to the public C ant e ens .. .« •« .. Fuel storage depots .. .. ,. 606 ) 1,239 ill ] Males 3 ) 11 ) 549 Females 690