Hygiene In Offices

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31802, 5 October 1968, Page 12

Hygiene In Offices

Sir, —It is not unusual to read advertisements of positions offering, usually to mature women, for cleaning offices or factories, including the toilets, and also including the preparation of morning and afternoon teas for the staff. Over the years I have not read one word in protest about this unhygienic combination of work either from staff, the Health Department, or the Labour Department. From the increase in the size of the advertisements it would seem that it is becoming difficult for employers to fill these positions. The more mature and hygienicallyminded a person might be the less likely it is that she would want to apply for such a position.—Yburs, etc., UNSAVOURY.

September 30, 1968. [Mr ). B. Snoad, Supervising Inspector for the Department of Health, replies: “ ‘Unsavoury’ appears to prejudge women who are employed as cleaners and also for tea-making in offices and factories. Surely these women are capable of washing thoroughly before making the tea just as anyone in any home would do if engaged in dirty work immediately before the nqed to handle food? Thorough handwashing after visiting the toilet anywhere is equally as important as handwashing after cleaning an office or its toilet”]