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Cleansing Costs £30m. a Year
Page 87
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C"LecrIoN and disposal of household refuse and the sweeping of the streets cost over £30m. a year, said Mr. H. J. Dive when presenting his paper, Some Aspects of 0. and M., With Particular Reference to Public Cleansing." last Friday.
The public cleansing service employed about 50,000 men, had a total transport fleet comparable with the number of London buses, and swept 37,000 miles of roads, He commented that the purpose of work study was in no sense an inspection to report on efficiency, nor a financial axe to cut costs, come what may. The first essential was to achieve the purpose of the service and it might well be just as important to improve it as to cut costs.
There was a tendency to accept a procedure that had been carried out for a long time as the best, and perhaps the only. way.. The outsider, however, would approach a study of such an activity differently and might well suggest some aspect which was accepted without. demur by the man or the spot.
Sharply divided opinions as to the merits and demerits of 0. and M. in public cleansing were evident during the discussion.
The Possibility of difficulties with the trade unions caused by a reduction in the labour force to achieve efficiency after an 0. and M. study was mentioned by Mr. C. V. Rawnsley (Thurrock), who.citcd, as an example, a case where, if two men no longer deemed necessary had been made' redundant, the unions would have withdrawn their labour.
A vigorous attack on 0. and M. was made by Mr. k. G. Totty (Stoke-onTrent) oh`the"ground that every cleansing officer.",Was his own .0. and M. expert and knew his own. job and the workingsof his department far ,better than relatNely ineXperienced Outsiders'. He commented that the older members were the ones who criticized 0. and M.. because younger members dared ant.
On the matter of redundancy. Mr. Dive said that this was a real problem and attempts were made to spread, over a period, the implementation of the findings of 0. and M. specialists, so that any surplus labour could be absorbed.
One of the supporters of 0. and M. was Mr. H. Ardern (Westminster).
No Labour Trouble on Task Work nISCUSSION of Mr. G. Huffels' 11--, paper on "Modern Practice of the Cleansing Service in the Netherlands:, brought to light two interesting points concerning the handling of labour.
Mr. H. Arden (Westminster) asked how drivers in The Hague who abused their vehicles were punished. Car. W. McMaster (Renfrew) inquired whether the task-Work system used in the Netherlands produced dissension among the men and union trouble through sup
posed favouritism and unfair distribution of work.
. Mr. Hultels replied that the punishment of offending drivers was relatively mild, the men in effect losing the advantage of returning home early and work ing overtime for nothing. .
Task-work schemes were carefully calculated on a winter basis, the early completion of work operating in the summer when it was easier. No union troubles had been experienced and the scheme worked perfectly throughout Holland.
Mr. V. G. Bursnall (Harrow) thought that the figures given for bin-loading rates id Mr. HuffelS' paper were perhaps exaggerated. He was assured, however, by Mr. Huffels that the aim for the' number loaded was 1,000 per man each day, hut the recognized average was 700.
Was it practice to spread salt neat on roads for snow clearance, asked Mr, D. W. Jackson (Sunderland), and why had snow-blowers not been more favoured? Mr. Huffels replied that salt -was sometimes used alone, whilst snowblowers had been tried, but were not completely successful, because the snow was often too wet.
Dual-purpose Vehicles Needed
DISCUSSION which followed the readiing of Mr. J. Skiffs paper, "Tools for the Job," centred mainly on the suitability of various types of dustbin and produced a certain amount of controversy as to whether refuse collection and kindred senvices were in the nature of menial work.
However, MT. W. CaliCkSballk (Stirling) had some interesting comments to make concerning municipal appliances. He considered that the noise caused by such equipment as compressors for road breakers could he greatly abated by making use of the electricity 1supply available at lamp standards, to power alternative kinds of machinery. Another advantage which could be derived by employing electricity from this source was the ability to use electric sweepers.
Vehicle: design had become Such, said Mr. Cruickshank, that smaller authorities could not afford large arid expensive special vehicles, but had to have one which served several purposes. In his case, side loaders were used. .Nevertheless, refuse tended rlo cling to the front of the.boO in the angle fainted between the bottom and front bulkhead -When tipping, This :bad resulted in correision and destruction of part of the body.
A rat-Bused plate fitted. inside•the angle would give the selfTcleaning. action required and at the safile time ..provide a space which 'Could be 'fitted With "doors and used for. stoWage..
Mr. Cruickshank went on 16 describe modifications he had had made to n gully and cesspool-emptier to overcome the problem of trailing 'hoses on pavements and reduce the length of hose required when emptying cesspools, sumps and the like. The rear inlet for sump emptying had been blanked off and an adaptor made for the gully intake below the valve, so that the gully pipe could be replaced with hoses if necesSary._ In this way at least one Length of hose was saved, whilst the arin could be swung over the pavement, ensuring that hoses were completely clear and giving free passage to pedestrians.
A plea to manufacturers for cornpletely dustless loading came from Mr. F'. St. L. McCarthy, (St. Marylebone.). He said that despite claims made. completely dustless loading of refuse collectors had still to be attained.
Interest in the gully and cesspoolemptier modifications was expressed by Mr. Skitt, when making his reply. The financial problems associated with vehicle design and small authorities raised the question of mutual aid and regionalization. As for dustless loading, he agreed that some forms were better than others in respect of sealing arrangements. .
Controlled Smoking on Tips
rONTROLLED smoking and the possibility of tip fires arising from solar action on broken glass were among the points discussed after the presentation of Mr. C. V. Rawnsley's paper,. " The Fire Hazard in the Public Cleansing Service."
His views on fire-fighting equipment for vehicles and pistol-type extingushers witha reserve cartridge attached, were sought by Mr. J. Ames (Chisleburst and Sideup), whilst Mr. F. L. Stirrup (Salford), in opening the discussion, said that he considered bulldozers were about the most effective way of dealing with tip fires by separating the burning area. The value of sprinkler systems was questioned by Mr. V. G. Bursnall (Harrow).
Replying, Mr. Rawnsley said that he considered it preferable to allow controlled smoking, because prohibition engendered surreptitious indulgence, with a consequent fire hazard. The danger of fire through the presence of broken glass was -overrated, there being more danger of it arising through carelessness Or deliberate action.
Regarditig the best equipment for
vehicles,. he 'considered the pistol-type extinguiSher, Was' much quicker than the,old'piStbritype C.T.C. extinguisher and poSseSsed the advantage of having a reserveready to hand. It was also
more efficient: " Mr. Rawrisley agreed that bulldozing
was abotit theably way to deal adequately with tip ifire., and as for the value of sprinkler systems in buildings, this depended :on-the size of building and the material Contained therein. The average. wpikshop could: he properly protected with hand extinguishers if personnel were trained.
A point to be made clear was that in all circumstances the fire brigade should be called, as time was a most important factor in fire fighting.