First report of the Departmental Committee appointed to inquire into the ventilation of factories and workshops : with appendices.

  • Great Britain. Home Office. Committee on Ventilation of Factories and Workshops.
Date:
1902
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: First report of the Departmental Committee appointed to inquire into the ventilation of factories and workshops : with appendices. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    5/134 (page 5)
    The establishment of a legal maximum limit of carbonic acid would probably conduce to the provision and use of proper heating appliances in such cases. We are of opinion that heating arrangements capable of maintaining in case of necessity a temperature at least 25° F. above that of the outside air, in the absence of lights and employees but along with adequate ventilation, should be provided in all factories and workshops where the occupation is sedentary or involves little muscular exertion, and should be regularly used in the colder weather. In such occupations the temperature should not be less than about 60° F., particularly where the work involves delicate manipulations with the hands. RECOMMENDATIONS. After very careful consideration we desire to make the following recom: mendations :— 1. That in exercise of the powers conferred on the Secretary of State, by section 7 of the Factory Act of 1901, such a standard of ventilation should be prescribed for all classes of factories and workshops not otherwise specially dealt with, that the proportion of carbonic acid in the air at about the breathing level, and away from the immediate influence of any special source of contamination, such as a person or light, shall not (except on very foggy days, when no tests should be made, on account of the vitiated state of the outside air) rise during daylight, or after dark when only electric light is used, beyond 12 volumes of carbonic acid per 10,000 of air, and that when gas or oil is used for lighting the proportion shall not exceed 20 volumes after dark or before the first hour after daylight; the only exception to this rule to be in cases where the extra carbonic acid is produced in other ways than by respiration or combustion, as in breweries, &c. 2. That in the case of cotton-cloth factories with artificially humidified air the occupier should have the option of coming under the regulation just mentioned, instead of remaining under the existing regulation. 3. That Inspectors of Factories should inform employers of the results of any Official analyses of the air in their factories or workshops, should give notice that the ventilation is deficient to any employer in whose factory or workshop the above proportions have been found to be exceeded, and at the same time supply, so far as practicable, information as to the nature of any defect noticed; and that legal proceedings should not be taken against an employer unless, after a reasonable interval following such notice, the stated proportion is found, on an average of two or more samples taken in different parts of the room, to be again exceeded by one volume or more, and he is unable to show that he has taken measures reasonably calculated to secure the requisite ventilation. 4. That arrangements be made by the Factory Department of the Home Office for the analysis by a specially qualified person or persons of samples of air collected by Inspectors (see Appendix III), and that any analysis on which a prosecution immediately depends shall have been performed by such qualified person or persons. 7 5. That arrangements be made for Inspectors of Factories to have the use, when desired, of a properly tested portable apparatus for estimating on the spot the proportion of carbonic acid in air. fei’ In Appendix II we have endeavoured to give a general account of the conditions on which efficient ventilation depends. We trust that this information may prove of service both to the Factory Department and to Employers. We have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient Servants, JOHN SCOTT HALDANE. Ya EDWARD H. OSBORN. CHaries R. Penpock, Secretary.