THE OFFICE PREMISES ACT 1958
This Act applies to any premises, room, suite of rooms or other part of premises in which persons are employed in clerical work. (S. 3) Clerical work includes book-keeping, sorting and filing, typing, document reproduction, machine calculating, drawing, and the handling of mail, telephone and telegraph operating and the handling of money. (S. 2)
The Act requires;
I) the daily removal of dirt and waste;
2) no overcrowding;
3) a reasonable temperature in each room;
4) effective and suitable ventilation to provide fresh air;
5) effective and suitable lighting;
6) windows to be cleaned;
7) suitable arrangements to avoid discomfort or glare to the eyes of workers;
8 ) sanitary conveniences for the workers;
9) use discontinued where the enforcing authority certifies the office is unsuitable;
10) all floors, steps, stairs, lifts, passages and gangways of sound construction and properly maintained;
11) when persons are inside no doors may be locked unless easily and immediately capable of being opened from the inside;
12) fire escape routes to be marked in red letters of adequate size;
13) employees to be familiar with the fire escape routes and fire drill;
14) a supply of drinking water;
15) adequate, clean and orderly washing facilities;
16) suitable sitting facilities for sedentary- type work;
17) a first-aid box to be provided;
The enforcing authority in the case of offices occupied by the State and factories under the Factories Act 1955 (except enforcement of S. 13 of the Office Premises Act which is enforceable by the Sanitary Authority) is the Minister for Industry and Commerce and in every other case it is the Sanitary Authority.
