FLAXMILL WORKERS

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 141, 17 June 1913, Page 6

FLAXMILL WORKERS

ACCOMMODATION REQUIREMENTS. |

STRINGENT REGULATIONS TO BE

ENFORCED

Regulations under the Shearers and Agricultural Laborers' Accommoda- , tion Act, with regard to the acoommo- ' dation to be provided by employers for their woi'kers in flaxmills and saw- > mills, are published in the last Ga- ' zette. and come into force immediate- i

ly. They stipulate that accommodation shall not be deemed to be adequate unless' it complies in all respects with the regulations, provided that where the inspector is satisfied that accommodation provided before the regulations substantially meets requirements, he shall sanction the use ot such accommodation..

VENTILATION

The ?floor of every- room in which workers are accommodated shall consist of flooring-boards (where practicable, to be of tongued-and-grooved timber), or of. such other material as is approved by an inspector, and shall be so constructed that except in the case of concrete flooring there shall, for the purposes of ventilation, be a clear space of not less than 6 inches in "every part between the under-side of every joist, sleeper-plate, stringer, or bearer on which such floor may be laid or supported and the upper surface of th© ground. Such space shall be freely ventilated to the satisfaction of the inspector. Walls shall be lined internally with match-lining, and tongued-and-groov-ed where practicable. All external walls must be so constructed as to exclude wind and water. The roof of every room not ceiled shall, if covered with iron, be lined with felt, paper, or sacking

AIR SPACE.

Every sleeping-room shall provide not less than 400 cubic feet of air space and 45 square feet of floor-space for each person, and shall be not less than 8 feet in height in any part. The inspector may post up in a conspicuous place in any sleeping-room a notice specifying the maximum number of persons that may be accommodated therein; provided that not more than two persons shall be required to sleep in any one room. _ , Each bunk shall be provided with a spring mattress or a. mattress of chaff, stra-w, or kapoc. \ Separate rooms shall in all cases be provided for sleeping and for meals. No person, shall be required or permitted to sleep in any room where food is usually kept, or in any place insufficiently shut off from such room. Suitable heatiifg appliances shall be provided, and provision shall also be made for washing and drying of workers' clothes.

WINDOWS.

Every room shall be provided with one or more windows in direct communication with the external air and so constructed as to permit of all sashes being moved and to permit of .at least one-half of each window. being opened, the opening portion to extend to at least 6 feet 6 inches from the floor. The total area of the window or windows in each room shall be not less than one-tenth, of the area of the. flooTvpl that >room. Through ventilation 'Mall" Be provided in each room by placing a window opposite the door or another window."

SANITATION

Sufficient and suitable privy and urinal accommodation shall be provided to the satisfaction of the Inspector or District Health Officer. Such accommodation shall, if not connected with a sewerage system, be not less than 50ft nor more than one hundred yards from the other accommodation buildings, nor less than fifty yards from the water supply. All waste-pipes from sinks, washbasins, or other sanitary fittings shall consist of such materials and be so constructed as to ensure fcleanliness and freedom from any smell or leakage. .■■■•-.■• ; There shall be provided to. the satisfaction of the District Health Officer or Inspector, an ample supply of clean and wholesome water for drinking, culinary, and washing purposes.

i CLEANLINESS.

Where any sleeping-room has ceased to be occupied for more than twentyeight days, it shall be thoroughly scrubbed or otherwise cleaned by the employer before; it is again occupied. During occupation the sleeping-rooms shall be kept clean by the occupants. The employer shall, during the period of occupation, cause all other accommodation, to be kept in a cleanly state to the satisfaction of the Inspector. Suitable ambulance appliances shall be provided at every fiaxmill and at every sawmill.

TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION

Where the nature of the work neoessitatesi the frequent 'removal of accommodation from one locality to another, temporary accommodation of a weatherproof type (but not necessarily in conformity in other "respects with, these regulations) may, with] the precedent approval in writing of the Inspector, be provided! to his satisfaction. Such approval shall not bo granted in respect of a longer r>eriod than three months at one time.

These regulations, so far as they relate to sleeping accommodation, shall not apply m any case where the workers could, in the opinion of the Inspector, conveniently reside at a boarding-house not more than a mile from the place of employment, or in any case where such place of employment is within a mil© of a borough ot town district

At any flaxmill where steam is- used the employer shall, if so required by tb^o District Health Officer and the Inspector by writing under their hands, provide ia shower-bath, witih a, sufficient hot and cold water supply, for the use of the workers employed at such mill1. "

These regulations are also applicable to contractors for flaxmill and sawmill work.