Public Health (General) Regulations – Section 22 (Statutory Instruments 4/1935, 57/1936, 39/1940, 8/1942, 67/1946, 33/1952, 65/1953, 27/1954, 18/1955, 15/1956 and 26/1960)
Statutory Instrument 4/1935 .. in force 6 July 1935
Amended by S.I. 57/1936, 39/40, 8/1942, 67/1946, 33/1952, 65/1953, 27/1954, 18/1955, 15/1956
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1. These Regulations may be cited as the Public Health (General) Regulations and shall be construed with reference to the Public Health Act.
General
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1A. In these Regulations -
“local authority” save where otherwise prescribed in writing by the chairperson of the sanitary authority means the sanitary inspector within such inspector's district, subject to the supervision and directions of the district medical officer;
“street” means any way or road in any town and includes the side walks and drains thereof;
“road” means any public road or bridge, and includes all drains, trenches, and waterways, along and across such road.
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2. The sanitary inspectors shall enforce these and all other Regulations of the Authority and shall send in to the sanitary authority monthly, written reports on the sanitary condition of the several towns and districts of the Island and shall obey all instructions which may be issued to them by the sanitary authority.
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3. The sanitary inspectors within their respective districts, shall, and the members of the sanitary authority may, inspect the streets, roads, drains, yards, premises and lots and shall cause to be removed therefrom all matters or things offensive to the neighbours, or injurious to health; and any person whose duty it is to remove such matter or thing shall forthwith do so on being so directed by a sanitary officer, or any member of the sanitary authority.
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4. If the owner or occupier of any premises fails to carry out any such directions, any sanitary officer is empowered, at all reasonable times, to enter any such premises, wherein such nuisance exists, and to abate or remove the same, and to do all things as may be necessary for removing or abating the same; and the owner or occupier may, in addition to any penalty incurred under these Regulations, be sued and levied upon at the instance of any sanitary inspector, for any sum which may have been spent for the removal or abatement of any nuisance complained of: Provided that if it shall appear to the magistrate, before whom any suit for the recovery of any such sum of money shall be brought, that the abatement or removal of any nuisance was beyond the means of any owner or occupier, it shall be competent for the magistrate to relieve the defendant from payment of the said sum and of any penalty incurred.
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5.
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(1) The owner or occupier of any premises within any town in Saint Lucia and within 2 miles thereof, who shall allow to remain in such premises—
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(a) any filth, offal, or decaying or offensive animal or vegetable matter;
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(b) any waste or stagnant water which might reasonably be drained;
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(c) any foul or offensive trench, gutter, privy or cesspool, or any trench or gutter harbouring or likely to harbour mosquito larvae;
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(d) any rank grass, weed, bush or underwood of a character to be injurious to health; or
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(e) any vessel, bucket, tin, bottle, broken piece of bottle or other receptacle whatsoever, whether of a like nature to those before-mentioned or otherwise, capable of holding water, in such premises or in or upon the walls thereof, to hold water for a longer period than 7 days; except receptacles used for storing water under the provisions hereinafter prescribed;
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(f) any tank, barrel, cistern or other receptacle whatsoever, whether of a like nature to those before-mentioned or otherwise, used for storing water, to remain in such a state as to allow of the breeding of mosquitoes therein,
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and who shall fail to abate or remove any of such nuisance forthwith or within a reasonable time on being required to do so by a sanitary inspector, commits an offence against these Regulations: and should such owner or occupier as aforesaid permit the same or a similar nuisance to recur within a period of 6 months after being required to abate the same he or she commits an offence against these Regulations.
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Provided that for the purposes of the last preceding paragraph (f), wells and other such receptacles from which river water is drawn by a bucket or other similar vessel shall be deemed nuisances; and provided that every other receptacle used for storing water shall be deemed a nuisance unless the following requirements are fulfilled: (i) water shall be drawn from any such receptacle by means of a tap, spigot or pump and not otherwise; (ii) the intake pipe shall not be led into any such receptacle but shall stop at least one inch short of any hole or opening in the same, and such hole or opening and all wire gauze of copper, brass or galvanized iron of not less than 17 meshes to the inch, in such a manner as effectually to prevent the access of mosquitoes to the water in such receptacle: Provided further that if in the opinion of any medical officer the access of mosquitoes to the water in any such receptacle is effectually prevented otherwise than as above prescribed then and in such case such receptacle shall not be deemed a nuisance.
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(2)
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(a) The owner of any such premises who shall fail to make or cause to be made proper and efficient drains to carry off water from such premises; and
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(b) The owner or occupier of any such premises who shall fail to fill up or cause to be filled up all drains, ditches, pools, holes, pits, irregularities and depressions, in the ground or surface of such premises or lot which may be of such a nature as to cause or allow of the accumulation or stagnation of water therein,
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on being required to do so by a sanitary inspector, commits an offence against these Regulations.
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6. Any medical officer or sanitary inspector shall have power, at any time between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., if he or she thinks fit, to enter into any such premises and pour oil or cause oil to be poured, on the surface of water contained in any receptacle in such premises.
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7.
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(1) The owner, or occupier, or manager or person in charge of any estate or plantation or land situated wholly or in part within 2 miles of the boundaries of any town shall cause the whole of such estate, plantation or land or such part thereof as lies within the aforesaid limit to be efficiently drained and kept in such a state as not to be injurious or dangerous to health.
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(2) Such owner, occupier, manager or person in charge as aforesaid shall not allow to remain on any part of such land as aforesaid—
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(a) any waste or stagnant water;
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(b) any foul or offensive hole, pit, trench, gutter, drain, latrine, privy, or cesspool;
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(c) any collection of water harbouring or likely to harbour mosquito larvae;
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(d) any dead animal or any collection of animal excreta or rubbish likely to be injurious or dangerous to health.
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8. All premises in any town shall be properly enclosed to prevent rubbish or filth being thrown therein.
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9. The occupier of any premises adjoining any street, or other public place in any town, shall keep all footways and drains belonging to and leading from such premises, and the side-walk in front of such premises properly swept and clean, and at all times free from stagnant water, dirt, or rubbish of any kind.
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10. The owner of every premises in any town shall keep the yard and grounds attached thereto properly filled up with such materials as may be placed at his or her disposal by a sanitary inspector to prevent the lodging of water therein.
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11. Every person commits an offence against these Regulations who—
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(a) throws or lays any dirt, manure, litter, rubbish, urine, night soil, carrion, offal, trees, brushwood, bush, decayed vegetables, fish, or meat, or any other dirty or offensive matter or fluid whatsoever, in or on any street, road, stream or public place, or near to any inhabited building;
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(b) throws or causes to be thrown any of such matters or things into any street, road or public place, or near to any inhabited building or so as to fall or run into any street, road, stream or public place;
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(c) permits any offensive matter or thing to run from any manufactory, slaughter-house, butcher's shop, yard, premises or other place whatsoever into any street, road, stream, or public place, or into the premises of any other person, or so as to be a nuisance to any person passing on any street or road;
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(d) neglects to keep all privies, drains, cesspools and other like places cleaned and disinfected to the satisfaction of the sanitary inspector;
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(e) deposits night soil, sweepings, rubbish and any other kind of refuse matter in any other place than the place specially set apart for such purpose.
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12. Any premises which is in a filthy state, and, in the opinion of a sanitary inspector is injurious to health, shall be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected in such manner and within such reasonable time, as the sanitary inspector shall direct.
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13. The occupier of every house shall keep thoroughly clean such house, and all yards, cellars, and all other places attached or belonging to such house, and shall deposit all sweepings of yards and other places aforesaid, and all rubbish, at any place appointed for that purpose by the sanitary authority, or by any sanitary inspector.
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14. In all cases where one or more persons occupy the same premises, or where any houses or premises are let out in tenements where there is a common yard, cellar, basement, entrance, lane or alley, the owner, and each and all tenants thereof using such yards, cellars, basement, entrance, lane or alley shall be responsible for their good order and cleanliness, and is liable for any offence against these Regulations.
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15. In all cases where, by these Regulations, the occupiers of premises are bound to perform any act, if there shall be no occupier or if there is a difficulty in ascertaining who is the occupier, the owner of such premises is liable.
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16. In the case of buildings, yards, and places of a public character, such as churches, chapels, schools, grave yards, and other places of a similar nature, whether in use or not, the persons in charge of such buildings, yards, or other places, shall be deemed to be the occupiers.
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17. The senior non-commissioned officer of police in castries and the police officer or constable in charge of any police station in the out-districts shall be ex officio sanitary officers under the Public Health Act.
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18. A person shall not deposit, within the limits of any town, human faeces on to or in any premises or place other than into a properly constructed closet, or into a privy of such description and construction as is approved by the sanitary authority.
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19.
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(1) The owner or occupier or person in charge of every house situate within the limits of any town shall provide and maintain a properly constructed closet, or privy, or latrine of such description and construction as is approved for the time being by the sanitary authority.
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(2) Where it appears to the sanitary inspector that any such house is not provided with a suitable closet or privy or latrine, or that having been so provided it has not been maintained as the sanitary authority requires, the sanitary inspector may, by notice in writing, served upon the owner or occupier or person in charge of such house, require him or her within a time specified in such notice, not being less than 14 days from the day of service thereof, to provide or efficiently maintain the same. If such owner or occupier or person in charge fails to comply with the requirements of this notice, within the time specified, he or she is liable to a penalty for every day he or she fails to comply as aforesaid.
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20.
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(1) A person shall not deposit, outside the limits of any town human faeces on to or in any premises or place other than into a pit, hole or trench, of such description and construction as the sanitary authority may require.
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(2) Any such faeces when deposited in such pit, hole or trench as has been approved by the sanitary authority shall be effectually covered on every occasion of a deposit, and shall be kept effectually covered.
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21. The owner, or occupier or person in charge, of any plantation, house or premises, having a latrine or privy or closet, used with or belonging to such plantation, house or premises, shall so construct and maintain it as to prevent access thereto by any animal or poultry, and it must be of such description and construction as is approved for the time being by the sanitary authority.
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22. Every building where persons are employed or are intended to be employed in any trade, business, or manufacture, shall be provided with sufficient and suitable accommodation in the way of sanitary conveniences, of such description and construction as is approved for the time being by the sanitary authority, having regard to the number of persons employed or in attendance at such building, and also, where persons of both sexes are employed, or intended to be employed, or in attendance, with proper separate accommodation for persons of each sex.
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23.
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(1) Where it appears to a sanitary inspector or to a medical officer that any such building or any school is not provided with such sufficient and suitable sanitary conveniences as the sanitary authority requires, the sanitary authority may, by notice in writing served by their inspector or servant upon the owner, occupier or person in charge of such building, or the manager of or person keeping such school, require him or her, within a time specified in such notice, not being less than 14 days from the day of service thereof, to provide the same.
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(2) If such owner, occupier or person in charge of such building or manager of or person keeping such school shall fail to comply with the requirements of such notice, within the time specified, he or she is liable to a penalty for every day that he or she fails to comply as aforesaid.
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24. The owner, or occupier or person in charge of any premises shall not permit human faeces to lie exposed or uncovered thereon.
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25. Every person who, within the limits of any town shall deposit human faeces on to the premises of another, or, without the limits of any town shall deposit human faeces on to the lands of another, without effectively covering the same, commits an offence against these Regulations.
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26. A person shall not deposit human faeces into or upon any road, highway, beach, river, ravine, water-course, or any other place.
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27. Every privy, latrine or closet, hole, pit or trench, when a public character, constructed and being of such description as is approved for the time being by the sanitary authority, shall be maintained in an efficient state, and be kept at all times in a sanitary condition.
Specific provisions with respect to Ankylostomiasis
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28.
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(1) It shall be the duty of every sanitary inspector to report to the sanitary authority whenever he or she has reason to believe that the privy accommodation on any estate is insufficient or unsuitable by reason of the number of persons residing or employed on the estate.
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(2) On receipt of any such report the sanitary authority, if satisfied as to the want of proper accommodation, shall serve a notice on the owner or occupier of the estate requiring him or her to provide and maintain sufficient and suitable accommodation for the use of persons residing and employed on the estate in the form to be prescribed and within a period to be specified in the notice, or, requiring him or her to put and maintain any existing privy accommodation in a clean and efficient condition.
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(3) If the owner or occupier of an estate upon whom such a notice has been served makes default in complying with the requisitions in the notice, the sanitary authority shall cause a complaint relating thereto to be made before the magistrate of the district; and the magistrate shall thereupon summon such owner or occupier to appear before him or her and may make an order on such owner or occupier requiring him or her to comply with all or any of the requirements of the notice and to pay the cost of the proceedings.
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(4) Any such owner or occupier not obeying a magistrate's order made hereunder shall, if he or she fails to satisfy the court that he or she has used due diligence, be liable to a fine not exceeding $2.40 for each day during which such default continues; any such owner or occupier knowingly and wilfully acting contrary to any such order is liable to a fine of $4.80 per day during such contrary action.
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29.
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(1) When privy accommodation shall have been provided in accordance with these Regulations the sanitary authority may cause public notices to be affixed on the estate prohibiting all persons from defecating in any other place than the place provided for the purpose.
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(2) Every person who misuses any privy accommodation provided under these Regulations, or who disobeys the public notices affixed on the estate as aforesaid, is liable to a fine not exceeding $24.
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30. All towns may be provided by the sanitary authority with sufficient public latrine accommodation, so constructed as to suffice for the proper collection or removal of all sewage matter on hygenic principles and to prevent pollution of the surface of the ground; and it shall be the duty of the district medical officer to report to the sanitary authority if in his or her opinion any such latrine accommodation is needed.
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31.
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(1) It shall be the duty of the managers or such other persons having the control of a school to keep the privy accommodation aforesaid in a clean and sanitary condition and to ensure that such work is carried out efficiently.
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(2) Any member of the staff of a school misusing such privy accommodation, or defecating in any place near to the school house other than the place provided for the purpose, is liable to a fine not exceeding $24; and during school hours or while a pupil is under the control of a teacher, any such teacher who shall not take every reasonable precaution to prevent a pupil from misusing the privy accommodation or from defecating in any place near to the school house other than the place provided as aforesaid, commits an offence against these Regulations.
Bakehouses
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32. In these Regulations relating to bakehouses and bread sellers
“bread” includes cakes and all kinds of fancy bread whatsoever and confectionery of all kinds and descriptions;
“baker” means any person employed in the preparation of bread in a bakery whether as master, employee or otherwise;
“bakery” means any bake house, bakery, oven-room or other building where any bread, biscuits or confectionery is baked, made or prepared for purpose of sale;
“inspector” means any person authorised to inspect under the Public Health Act and includes the local authority or any member thereof;
“occupier” includes any owner, lessee, or person in charge of or responsible for a bakery.
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33.
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(1) Every occupier of a bakery shall take out a licence annually in respect of any premises used as a bakery, such licence to be issued on the certificate of the local authority who shall satisfy himself or herself or itself of the fitness of the premises to be used as a bakery.
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(2) A charge of $0.24 a year ending on 31 December or $0.12 a half year ending 30 June or 31 December shall be made for the licence or any renewal thereof.
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(3) All moneys for licences under these Regulations shall be paid to the Director of Finance and Planning of Saint Lucia.
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34. It shall be lawful for any inspector to enter any bakery at any time and to examine the condition of the bakery and the condition of the persons employed therein and the articles or materials used therein or apparently intended to be used in the manufacture or preparation of bread.
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35.
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(1) If it appears to the local authority upon such examination or upon the report of any inspector making the examination that the condition of the bakery is not in accordance with the requirements of regulation 36 hereof or that from any cause its condition is such that danger may arise to public health from the preparation of bread therein the local authority may by notice in writing direct the occupier of the bakery within such reasonable time as the local authority may direct to execute such work or take such measures as to the local authority appears necessary to make the bakery in accordance with these Regulations or to prevent danger to public health from the preparation of bread therein and in default of executing such work to cease from using the premises as a bakery.
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(2) Any person who shall continue to use such premises as a bakery without complying with the requirements of such notice commits an offence against these Regulations.
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36. Every occupier of a bakery shall—
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(a) have the floor of such bakery constructed of concrete or mason work;
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(b) keep the floor of such bakery clean and free from dirt, ashes or other accumulation of decaying animal or vegetable matter;
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(c) have no privy, cess-pit, or other receptacle for offensive matter therein or upon the same premises except at such a distance from the bakery as the local sanitary authority may in each case approve;
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(d) not allow the same to be used by any person as a sleeping place;
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(e) see that it is provided with a pure and wholesome water supply;
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(f) provide washing accommodation for the use of the employees;
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(g) see that the bakers employed therein are clothed in clean garments;
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(h) have the same limewashed once every year at least and in addition if required so to do at such other time or occasion as the sanitary inspector may direct, or painted or otherwise kept clean and in a sanitary condition in such manner and at such intervals as may be prescribed;
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(i) obey any order or direction given to him or her by the local authority in respect to the cleanliness or otherwise of the same.
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37.
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(1) A person shall not act as a baker unless that person is furnished with a certificate from a medical officer that he or she is in a fit state of health to engage in the occupation of a baker and it is lawful for an inspector on entry into a bakery to require the immediate production of such certificate for inspection.
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(2) An occupier of a bakery shall not employ any person in the capacity of a baker unless furnished with such a certificate.
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(3) (Superseded by regulation 162)
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(4) A fee of $0.24 shall be payable for such certificate.
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(5) A person who resides with any person who suffers from an infectious or contagious disease shall not act or be employed as a baker.
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38. (Revoked by S.I. 15/1956)
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39. A person shall not have in any bakery or upon any premises attached to any bakery any articles or materials used in the manufacture or preparation of bread which are dirty, unsound or unwholesome or unfit for human consumption or for the preparation of food for man.
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40. If it shall appear to any local authority or to any member of a local authority or any sanitary inspector making an examination under regulation 34 hereof that any articles or materials used or apparently intended to be used in or for the manufacture of bread are unfit for such purpose the local authority or member thereof or inspector may seize the same and cause the same to be examined by a medical officer and if such medical officer shall certify in writing that the articles or materials so seized are unfit to be used for or in the manufacture of bread shall cause such articles or materials to be destroyed.
Bread Sellers
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41. Bread shall not be kept or offered for sale in any place where any person is or resides who suffers from any contagious or infectious disease or is otherwise not in a fit state of health.
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42. A person shall not sell bread who suffers from or resides with any person who suffers from any contagious or infectious disease or is otherwise not in a fit state of health to do so.
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43. Every person who sells bread shall—
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(a) be clothed in clean garments and keep his or her hands clean at all times;
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(b) see that the receptacle used for the purpose is at all times clean;
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(c) not allow any other person to touch or handle any bread not sold or delivered to such person or which is to be sold or offered for sale to other persons;
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(d) see that the receptacle in which bread is kept is of such construction as—
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(i) to prevent the access of flies and dust,
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(ii) to permit of the bread being seen while the receptacle is closed,
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(iii) has been approved by the local authority;
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(e) be provided with a certificate from a medical officer that he or she is in a fit state of health to engage in the occupation of a breadseller. A fee of $0.24 shall be payable for such certificate in the same manner as provided for bakers.
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44. A person shall not knowingly employ any other person to sell bread unless such other person conforms to the conditions prescribed by these Regulations.
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45. Any person who commits a breach of an offence against regulations 32 to 44 inclusive is liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding $48.
SLAUGHTERHOUSE
Registration and Certification
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46. A premises shall not be used as a slaughterhouse unless the same shall be registered at the office of the sanitary authority.
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47. A slaughterer of cattle or horses shall not use any premises for the purpose of his or her trade unless licensed under the Licences Act.
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48.
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(1) Every person working at or for a slaughterhouse or meat-stall shall in the months of June and December in every year submit himself or herself to medical examination by a medical officer and shall procure a certificate from such medical officer stating that upon such examination such person was found to be free from any infectious disease or tuberculosis, syphilis, erysipelas, lupus, yaws, itch or any open or running sores, and every certificate shall be retained and preserved for the period of 6 months from the date thereof by the manager or owner of the slaughterhouse, and shall be produced by him or her whenever so required to do for the information of the sanitary authority or any sanitary officer.
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(2) Any person failing to comply with any of the requirements of this regulation commits an offence against these Regulations.
Inspection and Securing Cleanliness
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49. A person shall not be allowed in any slaughterhouse or meatstall except—
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(a) the owner or manager thereof and the persons employed therein and certificated in accordance with these Regulations; and
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(b) persons not suffering from any infectious or other disease as mentioned in the immediately preceding regulation.
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The owner or manager thereof violating this regulation, or knowingly permitting any person suffering from any such disease to remain in or about any slaughterhouse, commits a violation of these Regulations.
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50. Any owner or manager of a slaughterhouse who uses or permits to be used, and any other person who uses any slaughterhouse or portion thereof—
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(a) as a sleeping place; or
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(b) for carrying on any other trade; or
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(c) for any other purpose than that of a slaughterhouse commits a violation of these Regulations.
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51.
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(1) The floor, ceilings and inside walls and roofings of any slaughterhouse must be kept clean and free from dust to the satisfaction of the sanitary authority.
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(2) The internal surface of the walls and every part of the floor, which must be constructed of impermeable material so as to prevent the absorption of any blood, liquid refuse or filth or any other offensive or noxious matter, must be kept in good order and repair.
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(3) The walls and floors must be washed within 3 hours after any animal has been slaughtered, and all the skins, offal and waste substances removed, within the same period.
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(4) Every 6 months or oftener if necessary to the satisfaction of the sanitary authority the walls and floors must be thoroughly lime-washed.
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52. Dogs shall not be permitted to enter or be kept within any slaughterhouse, and no other animal shall be admitted unless it is intended for slaughter for the food of man, and no such animal shall be kept longer than is necessary for the purpose, and shall be confined, in a proper lair.
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53.
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(1) An animal shall not be slaughtered for sale unless the owner or manager is satisfied that it is free from disease, and the said owner or manager shall request a medical officer or a sanitary inspector to examine any animal suspected to be diseased, provided always, that in towns and villages where a market is provided no animal shall be slaughtered for sale unless the market clerk is satisfied that it is free from disease.
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(2) In case any animal shall not be passed as fit for human food by a medical officer or a sanitary inspector the person in charge of such animal or the owner thereof upon intimation to that effect shall, within a reasonable time of the inspection remove or cause such animal to be removed from the slaughterhouse.
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(3) The carcass of every animal slaughtered shall, before removal or sale, be examined by the owner or manager for the purpose of ascertaining whether the same or any part thereof is fit for human food.
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(4) If the owner or manager is not satisfied that the carcass of any animal slaughtered or any part thereof is fit for human food, the said owner or manager shall request a medical officer or a sanitary inspector to examine any such carcass or part thereof.
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(5) If the medical officer or sanitary inspector is satisfied that any carcass or part thereof is diseased, unsound or unfit for human food he or she may seize and condemn the same.
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54. Every slaughterhouse must be provided with a wholesome water supply kept in good order and always sufficient for all purposes including the cleansing of the premises and all receptacles.
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55. Receptacles of non-absorbent material for the collection of refuse and offal must be provided by the owner or manager of every slaughterhouse and kept clean when not in actual use. All such receptacles must be emptied within a reasonable time not exceeding 6 hours after the completion of the slaughtering operations.
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56.
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(1) Every person employed at or in any slaughterhouse shall be attired in clean clothes and shall – before handling any carcass or portion thereof – wash his or her hands with soap and clean water and use a clean towel.
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(2) The owner or manager of any slaughterhouse shall provide sufficient soap, clean water and a clean towel for the use of each person employed at or in connection with any slaughterhouse.
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57. A slaughterhouse shall not be erected within the precincts of any dwelling house or in such proximity thereto as to occasion a nuisance to the occupants thereof.
Aerated Water Factories
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58. Premises shall not be used as an aerated water factory unless the same have been duly registered in compliance with the provision of these Regulations.
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59. Every such aerated water factory shall be registered annually at the office of the sanitary authority and for this purpose every person who intends to use during any year any premises as a factory shall make application in writing to the sanitary authority, setting out his or her name in full and a correct description of the premises so intended to be used. Upon being satisfied that the premises are not in an insanitary condition, the sanitary authority shall issue to the applicant a certificate to the effect that they can properly be used as an aerated water factory in respect of the year for which the applicant seeks to register his or her premises. A fee of $0.96 shall be payable to the sanitary authority by the applicant for each certificate thus issued.
Such certificate shall be exhibited and kept exhibited by the applicant in some conspicuous place on the premises during the whole of the year for which it shall have been granted, and no longer. Any person carrying on an aerated water factory without being registered commits a violation of these Regulations.
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60. Every factory situate in any town shall have its supply of water taken direct from a service tap in the said factory and such water must, before being used in the manufacture of any aerated drinks, or for cleansing any bottles intended for holding same, or any filters, tank or other vessel used in the process of manufacture, be first filtered.
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61. The water used in any factory where a service tap cannot be installed for any of the purposes mentioned in the preceding Regulations must be—
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(a) taken from some spring or other place approved by the district medical officer and notified in writing by him or her to the sanitary authority to have been so approved; and
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(b) boiled; and
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(c) filtered.
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Any owner or manager of a factory contravening this or the preceding regulation commits a violation of these Regulations.
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62. No aerated drinks shall be manufactured and no bottles for holding the same nor filters, tank or other vessels used in the process of manufacture shall be cleaned except with such water as is herein before prescribed for use in the factory where such drinks are manufactured.
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63. No bottles shall be used for containing aerated drinks which have not been properly cleansed, and sterilized – either by boiling for not less than 20 minutes in boiling water, or by immersion for not less than 30 minutes in a solution of permanganate of potash of a strength of 5 grains to one gallon of water, this solution to be washed cut of bottles by filtered tap water. Brushes and any other appliances used for cleansing bottles shall be sterilized – immediately before use – by boiling them for not less than 20 minutes in boiling water.
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64. No sugar or other articles shall be used in the manufacture of any aerated drinks except the same be clean and free from deleterious matter.
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65. All filters used in any factory must be approved by the sanitary authority; and any owner or manager using any filter after intimation in writing to him or her that such Authority disapproves of the same, commits a violation of these Regulations.
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66. No owner, manager, or employee of, in or about any factory shall sell any aerated drinks unless manufactured with such water and other articles in the condition herein before prescribed.
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67. Any owner or manager of a factory knowingly employing therein any person suffering from a contagious or infectious disease or from any ulcer, or abrasions of the skin commits a violation of these Regulations.
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68. Any person employed at or in any factory (1) shall be attired in clean clothes (2) shall use only clean hands and forearms while engaged in cleaning any bottles or other vessels, or in mixing any preparation to be aerated, or in bottling or selling any manufactured drinks (3) shall not expectorate in or about the said factory (4) shall be provided with a certificate (for which a fee of $0.24 shall be payable), of a registered medical officer, that he or she is in a fit state of health to be employed in an aerated water factory.
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69. No machine shall be used in the manufacture of aerated drinks while and so long as any lead used in its construction is corroded by any acid employed in the process of manufacture or the plating or any copper portion of such machine does not properly protect such portion.
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70. The sanitary inspector shall once at least, in every month visit every factory in his or her district and report to the district medical officer the condition thereof, and of the bottles, filters and vessels therein.
Barbers' Shops
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71. Premises for use as a barber's shop shall be of suitable size and properly ventilated and approved by the sanitary authority.
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72. Such premises shall not be used for human habitation and shall not communicate directly with any room used for human habitation and shall be separated from such room by a partition extending from floor to ceiling.
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73. Premises used as a barber's shop (a) shall not be used for the sale of or in connection with a place for the sale of foodstuffs: (b) shall not be used as or in connection with a tailoring or dressmaking establishment.
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74. When required by the sanitary authority a barber's shop shall be supplied with water laid on from the mains by a tap opening in the shop.
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75. Premises and fittings shall at all times be kept clean and in a sanitary condition to the satisfaction of the sanitary authority.
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76. All cutting implements such as razors, scissors and clippers shall be sterilised immediately after use and for this purpose suitable arrangements shall exist to the satisfaction of the sanitary authority.
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77. All brushes and combs shall at all times be kept in a clean and sanitary condition.
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78. Any premises for use as a barber's shop shall be registered as such annually on 15 January after inspection and grant of a certificate by a Government medical officer for which a fee of $0.60 shall be charged.
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79. Any person carrying on the trade of, or employed as a barber or barber's assistant shall be registered as such annually on 15 January after the grant of a certificate by a Government medical officer for which a fee of $0.24 shall be charged.
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80. Premises shall not be used as a barber's shop without such registration and a person shall not carry on the trade of or be employed as a barber without such licence.
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81.
-
(1) If any person, while suffering from any infectious disease, wilfully exposes himself or herself without proper precautions against spreading the disease in any barber's shop or, being in charge of any person so suffering, so exposes such sufferer, he or she commits an offence against these Regulations.
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(2) A barber or his or her assistant shall not attend a client suffering from what appears to him or her to be a disease of the scalp, skin, or any notifiable infectious or contagious disease.
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82. Any person suffering from or showing symptoms of any infectious disease or suffering from any supperating sore or syphilis or yaws or from sore throat or any skin or hair disease of an infectious nature is prohibited from carrying on the trade of a barber whether as employer or employee.
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83. These Regulations shall apply to itinerant barbers wherever applicable.
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84. In addition to any penalty arising from a breach of these Regulations any Government medical officer after satisfying himself or herself that such action will be in the best interest of the public health may direct—
-
(a) that any premises used as a barber's shop shall be closed;
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(b) that any person, whether as employer or employee in a barber's shop or any itinerant barber shall immediately discontinue such occupation.
MILK
Definitions
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85. In these Regulations—
“cow-keeper” means the person in whose name any “milking-place” or pasture in which he or she keeps milking cows, is registered;
“dairy” includes any place where milk is kept for sale, and includes every room where such milk is stored;
“dairyman” means the person in whose name any “dairy” is registered;
“inspecting officer” includes such persons as the sanitary authority may from time to time appoint;
“licensee” includes every person licensed to sell or offer milk for sale in any district or area;
“milk” shall include wherever the context permits butter, cheese, cream and other milk products;
“milking place” means a place where cows are milked as a source of milk for sale;
“pasture” includes any pasture or like place whether open or enclosed, where milking cows are kept as a source of milk for sale;
“sell” or any of its derivatives or grammatical forms includes barter, exchange, give, supply, deliver, or otherwise pass or allow to pass into the control of some other person.
Obligation to Register Dairies, Pens and Pastures and to be Licensed as a Milk Seller
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86. It shall not be lawful for any person to keep a dairy, or milking place unless registered with the local authority of the district or area within which such dairy, or milking place is situated.
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87. It shall not be lawful for any dairyman or any person to offer or carry milk for sale, unless a licence is issued for so doing by a local authority.
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88. Every registration and every licence shall expire on 31 December of the year in which registration takes place or such licence is issued.
Registers of Registrations and Licences
-
89. The local authority shall keep and from time to time revise and correct the register of all registrations and licences issued.
Registration of Dairies
-
90. The applicant to register a dairy shall—
-
(a) state his or her name, the situation of such dairy and the names of all persons employed in handling the milk;
-
(b) furnish a certificate from a Government medical officer that he or she is and all persons handling the milk are apparently free from any infectious or contagious disease, and are fit to be employed. The fee for such certificate shall be $0.24;
-
(c) furnish a certificate from an inspecting officer that the dairy to be registered is in such a condition as to comply with the Regulations;
-
(d) state the name of the cow-keeper from which the milk is obtained and the situation of the pasture or cattle-pen.
Registration of Milking Places
-
91. The applicant to register a milking place shall—
-
(a) state his or her name, the situation of the milking place, the maximum number of cows to be kept therein, and the names of the milkers employed;
-
(b) furnish a certificate from a Government medical officer that he or she is, and every person employed in milking or attending the cows are apparently free from any infectious or contagious disease, and are fit to be so employed. The fee for such certificates shall be $0.24;
-
(c) furnish a certificate from an inspecting officer that the cattle-pen if any complies with the prescribed requirements and is situate on an approved site.
Licences of Milk Sellers
-
92. The applicant for a licence shall—
-
(a) state the name of the cow-keeper from whom his or her milk is obtained, and the situation of the milking place;
-
(b) furnish a certificate from a Government medical officer that he or she is apparently free from any infectious or contagious disease, and is fit to be so employed. The fee for such certificate shall be $0.24.
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93. The local authority issuing the licence shall indorse on each licence the name of the cow-keeper, and the situation of the milking-place from which the milk is to be obtained.
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94. If any licensee desires at any time to obtain milk from other sources he or she shall before so doing make application and submit the particulars aforementioned to the local authority issuing the licence, who, if satisfied, shall cause the licence to be endorsed accordingly.
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95. Every licensee shall whenever he or she ceases to take milk from any source which has been approved, immediately notify the local authority, who shall indorse his or her licence accordingly.
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96. It shall not be lawful for any licensee to obtain milk from any other source except that indorsed on his or her licence.
-
97. It shall not be lawful for any person to carry or offer milk for sale without first having taken out a licence to sell milk.
Powers as to Registration and Licensing
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98. The local authority shall refuse to make any registration, or to issue any such licence until satisfied that the provisions of these Regulations have been complied with and it may on good grounds at any time cancel any registration made by it.
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99. Registration shall not be made or renewed where any well-founded complaint of nuisance to the neighbourhood, arising from any milking place, has been made, or where due cleanliness has not been observed.
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100. The local authority issuing the licence may on good grounds at any time cancel any licence issued by him or her under these Regulations or strike out the name of any person previously permitted to supply milk to a licensed dealer.
Cattle-Pens in Towns, Villages and Prescribed Areas
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101. Every cattle-pen in a town or such other area as may be prescribed by the sanitary authority for the time being by notice in the Gazette shall, for every cow, heifer, ox or steer or other animal kept therein, contain not less than 40 square superficial feet floor area, and 300 cubic feet capacity of air space, or less than 2 square feet ventilating space in window, jalousie, lattice or other opening to the external air, and no cattle pen shall be erected in a town or such other area as may be prescribed without the permission and approval of the sanitary authority.
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102. Every such cattle-pen shall be floored with concrete tiles, bricks laid in cement, or asphalt, or other approved material, so graded towards the “grip” or channel gutter at the back, that no liquid matter can remain on the floor. The “grip” or channel shall be formed with a proper uniform fall. Satisfactory lawful provision having regard to the local conditions must be made for any discharge of liquid matter.
The walls, if any, shall be made of impervious material other than wood for a height of 4 feet from the floor. The walls, if any, and drains shall be adequately and regularly flushed with water and cleansed. Every such cattle-pen shall be provided with a properly constructed and water-tight roof.
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103. Every such cattle-pen shall be provided with a proper receptacle or dungstead for the reception of dung or other refuse. Every such receptacle or dungstead shall not be less than 10 feet distant from the cattle-pen, and shall be maintained to the satisfaction of the inspecting officer. The dung shall be cleared as often as may be necessary, and removed from inside the cattle-pen at least once daily.
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104. Every cow-keeper shall to the satisfaction of the inspecting officer cause each such cattle-pen to be kept thoroughly clean and disinfected with lime-wash containing 5%, crude carbolic acid or such other disinfectant as may be prescribed. Such disinfection shall be done at least once every 3 months.
Reports on Milking Places and Pastures
-
105. The inspecting officer must report to the local authority any milking place which he or she may find during the course of his or her inspections that is not in conformity with these Regulations.
-
106. He or she must similarly report any pasture, the condition of which is not satisfactory.
Inspection and Cleanliness of Animals
-
107. All cows shall be inspected and examined by an inspecting officer free of cost to the owners of the animals at intervals of not longer than 6 months. Whenever notice has been given by an inspecting officer of his or her intention to inspect the cows of a cow-keeper, the cow-keeper shall for the purpose of such inspection keep all his or her cows penned or tethered.
-
108. A cow-keeper shall not cause or suffer any cow in a milking place to be or to remain in a filthy condition, so as to expose the milk to infection or contamination.
Diseases among Animals
-
109. If at any time disease exists among the cattle in any place the cow-keeper shall immediately notify the local authority of the existence of the same. The inspecting officer may cause the immediate removal of such diseased animal, which shall be kept isolated. All milk from such diseased animal and from such milking place shall be destroyed or otherwise disposed of to the satisfaction of the inspecting officer until the milking place is adequately disinfected.
Milkers and Attendants
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110. A cow-keeper or dairyman or any other person shall not milk cows or handle vessels used for containing milk for sale, or in any way take part or assist in the conduct of such trade or business if at any time he or she appears to be suffering from any contagious or infectious disease.
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111. A cow-keeper or dairyman shall not—
-
(a) cause or suffer any person to milk cows or to handle vessels used for containing milk for sale, or in any way to take part or assist in the conduct of such trade or business, unless such person has been certified as fit by a Government medical officer;
-
(b) cause or suffer any person, although he or she has been duly certified as aforesaid, who at any time appears to be suffering from any contagious or infectious disease, to milk cows, or to handle vessels used for containing milk for sale, or in any way to take part or assist in the conduct of such trade or business;
-
(c) cause or suffer any cow to be milked until its udder and the hands of the milker have been cleaned and the utensils thoroughly cleaned and scalded.
Dairies
-
112. A dairyman shall not—
-
(a) permit any water-closet, earth-closet, privy, cesspool or urinal to be situate within, communicate directly with, or ventilate into any dairy;
-
(b) use any dairy, or permit the same to be used, as a sleeping apartment, or for any purpose incompatible with the proper preservation of the cleanliness of such dairy, and of the milk vessels and milk therein, or in any manner likely to cause contamination of the milk therein;
-
(c) convey or carry, or permit to be conveyed or carried, through any dairy, any excremental or offensive matter or any soiled bed, body or other clothing;
-
(d) wash, or permit any other person to wash, any bed, body or other clothing, or permit the same to be hung up to dry in any dairy;
-
(e) carry on within any dairy, any trade or business of such a nature as would tend to contaminate the milk;
-
(f) keep milk for sale or storage in any place where it would be liable to become infected or contaminated by gases or effluvia arising from any sewer, drain, cesspit or closet, or by any offensive effluvia from putrid or offensive substances, or by impure air, or by any offensive or deleterious gases or substances;
-
(g) permit milk to be stored or carried in lead vessels;
-
(h) keep or allow any swine to be or remain in or about any dairy.
Powers of Inspection
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113. The members or officers of the sanitary authority, the local authority and the officers thereof, shall at all times have the right of inspecting dairies, pastures, cattle pens and milking places for the purpose of seeing that the provisions of these Regulations are complied with; and all persons refusing admission to any such person or in any way obstructing or impeding any such person or inspection, commits an offence against these Regulations.
Testing Milk; Sale of Bad Milk
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114.
-
(1) Any person who shall sell or offer for sale as milk or pure milk any adulterated or impoverished milk commits an offence against these Regulations: Provided that this sub-regulation shall not apply to—
-
(a) skimmed milk provided that the receptacle or container in which such milk is sold or offered for sale is conspicuously marked with a name or description indicating that the milk has been so treated; or
-
(b) milk reconstituted by the addition of water or other substance to dried milk powder or to evaporated or condensed milk provided that the manufacturer's directions for reconstituting the milk are adhered to and that the receptacle or container in which the milk is sold or offered for sale is conspicuously marked with a name or description indicating that the milk has been reconstituted.
-
(2) The local authority or the officers thereof, any member, inspector, officer or servant of the sanitary authority, the Commissioner of Police, or any medical officer, sanitary officer, justice of the peace or constable may stop any person conveying or having in his or her possession any milk which he or she suspects is intended for sale, and may at all reasonable times enter into any dairy and may examine and test any milk being conveyed or found in such dairy and may take samples thereof.
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(3) The Senior Medical Officer or the Agricultural Superintendent or any other person authorised in that behalf by the sanitary authority may require any dairyman to deliver to him or her a sample of the milk usually offered by him or her for sale for the purpose of testing and classification. On such test having being made and having regard to the quality of such sample, the conditions obtaining in the dairy where the milk has been produced and the manner in which such milk is usually offered for sale a certificate shall be issued signed by the Senior Medical Officer and the Agricultural Superintendent designating the product of such dairy as Class I, Class II, or Class III.
-
(4) The sanitary authority, on being satisfied that the product of any dairy has improved or deteriorated, may at any time alter the designation for the time being of such product.
-
(5) Every licensee shall, whenever requested so to do by the sanitary authority, furnish within a reasonable time fixed by the sanitary authority, a complete list of all dairies or places from which his or her supply of milk is derived or has been derived during the last 6 weeks.
-
(6) It shall not be lawful for any dairyman licensee or other person to offer milk for sale except in Class II unless a certificate of classification in some superior class has been issued to him or her or to the person supplying such milk in respect thereof.
-
(7) Any milk which, when tested by a medical officer or a Government veterinary surgeon or other person appointed for the purpose by the Governor General or sanitary authority, does not contain at least 3%, of milk fat, and which fails to satisfy any other test prescribed by the sanitary authority, shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, to be impoverished or adulterated milk.
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(8) The burden of proving that any milk being conveyed or found in the possession of any person or found in any dairy, was not intended for sale shall be upon the defendant.
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(9) Where any person is charged with having in his or her possession or conveying in any manner any milk which it is suspected has been sold or offered for sale and declares that he or she purchased or received the same from some other person, or that he or she was employed as a carrier, agent, or servant, or to convey the same for some other person, the court is authorised, if practicable, to cause every such other person, and also, if necessary, every former or other person through whose possession such milk has passed, to be brought before it and to examine witnesses upon oath touching the same; and if it appears to the court that any person has had possession of such milk, every such person shall be deemed to have had possession of such milk at the time and place when and where the same was found or seized, and he or she is liable to punishment accordingly.
-
(10) Possession by any servant or agent shall be deemed to be the possession of both the owner and the servant or agent.
-
(11) Any person who shall obstruct or hinder any person acting under authority of this section commits an offence against these Regulations.
Certificate under Regulation 114 (3) |
We hereby certify that a sample of milk derived from .......................................... dairy has been tested in accordance with the provisions of the Public Health Regulations, and the product of such dairy shall be designated Class ....................................... |
This certificate shall be valid till revoked by the sanitary authority or a new certificate has been issued. |
Date ........................................... |
Vessels or Containers
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115.
-
(1) Milk shall only be kept or offered for sale in a receptacle of a pattern approved by the sanitary authority.
-
(2) Any such receptacle shall be closed by a well fitting lid properly secured by padlock or other approved means or manner, the milk to be drawn therefrom by a tap or otherwise as may be approved.
-
(3) Any licensee or other person who unlawfully opens or tampers with such receptacle or its milk contents commits an offence against these Regulations.
-
(4) Milk in transit and intended for sale shall be conveyed in a suitable container closed by a well fitting lid properly secured by padlock or other approved means or manner.
Measures for Sale of Milk
-
116. Measures for the sale of milk shall be of a material and pattern approved by the sanitary authority.
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117. A milk seller must keep his or her measures in a clean and satisfactory condition at all times, and shall not cause or suffer the same to be exposed to infection or contamination.
Penalties
-
118. Any person contravening any of these Regulations or found guilty of any breach of the same is liable to a penalty not exceeding $48.
Application of Regulations
-
119. These Regulations shall apply to the whole Saint Lucia except to such town, district or area as the sanitary authority with the approval of the Governor General may exempt from the operation of the same.
Certificate under Regulations 90 (b) 91 (b)* |
I hereby certify that I have examined .................................................................. residing at ................................ and that ................................ is apparently free from any infectious or contagious disease, and is fit to be employed in attending on or in milking cows, or in handling milk vessels. |
Date. |
* Note! But see now regulation 162 and Schedule. |
Certificate under Regulation 90 (c) |
I hereby certify that I have inspected the dairy belonging to ........................... at .............................. and that it is in such a condition as to comply with the Public Health Regulations. |
Date. |
Certificate under Regulation 91 (c) |
I hereby certify that I have inspected the milking place and/or cattle pen belonging to ......... at .................................... and that it complies with the requirements of the Public Health Regulations. It is on an approved site and constructed to hold ................................. cows. |
Date. |
Food Protection
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120. Whoever sells, or prepares or offers for sale, as being fit for consumption as food or drink, anything which he or she knows or has reason to believe to be in such a condition, from putrefaction, adulteration, or other cause, as to be likely to be noxious to health commits an offence against these Regulations.
-
120A.
-
(1) Whoever sells or offers for sale for consumption on the premises of any hotel, caf‚, restaurant, eating house, club or other place to which the public have access, any article of food or drink shall, immediately before final rinsing in clean water, disinfect the utensil or container in which such article of food is sold or offered for sale, and also any knife, fork, spoon or other instrument used in connection with the consumption of such article of food before such utensil, container or instrument is again used, by immersing it for not less than 3 minutes in a solution containing one part of permanganate of potash in 2,000 parts of water or 2 parts of hypochlorite of soda in 100 parts of water or such other solution as may be approved by the Authority.
-
(2) Any person who fails, neglects or refuses to comply with the provisions of paragraph (1) of this regulation commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $48.
-
121. Whoever—
-
(a) sells, or offers or exposes for sale, any unwholesome meat, poultry, fish, provisions or drink of any kind;
-
(b) keeps the same in any market, store, shop, dwelling-house, building or place;
-
(c) offers or exposes for sale any meat, poultry, fish, fruit, provisions, drink or article of any kind, intended for human consumption without seeing that it is adequately protected from the access of flies or dust;
-
(d) sells or engages in the preparation or serving of food in any shop, restaurant, boarding house, hotel, or any other place where food is sold or prepared for sale without being furnished with a certificate, (for which a fee of $0.24 shall be payable) of a registered medical officer that he or she is in a fit state of health to engage in such occupation,
-
commits an offence against these Regulations.
-
122.
-
(1) It is lawful for any sanitary officer, officer of the Castries town council or of any town or village council, or police or other constable, on view of any unwholesome meat, poultry, fish, provisions, or drink, forthwith to seize or cause the same to be seized and brought before a medical officer who, or who himself or herself if so qualified, shall certify such unwholesomeness in writing and shall thereupon cause the same to be forthwith destroyed, unless he or she is satisfied that the complaint is unfounded.
-
(2) It shall be lawful for any sanitary officer, officer of the Castries Corporation or of any town or village council, or police, or other constable on view of any meat, poultry, fish, fruit, provisions, or drink of any kind whether wholesome or unwholesome, being sold or offered for sale by a person suspected of suffering from an infectious disease, to seize or cause the same to be seized and to cause the vendor to be examined by a medical officer who shall give instructions as to the safe disposal of the article seized.
-
123. In any proceedings under the 3 preceding regulations the proof that the article was not sold, offered or exposed for sale or kept contrary to law shall be on the person charged.
Clothes Washing in Streams, etc
-
124. It is hereby prohibited to wash clothes—
-
(a) in the Castries River before it reaches the Castries Reservoir, and in any tributary stream thereto which may join the said Castries River before it reaches the said reservoir, and on the banks of the said river or streams;
-
(b) in the stream or ravine called “Grognette” or on the banks thereof within a distance of one thousand yards from the junction of the said stream or ravine with the Castries River;
-
(c) in any river or stream or other place wherever situate in Saint Lucia and prohibited for the washing of clothes, prohibition of which has been notified by a notice posted at the Police Station of the district concerned.
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125. A person shall not put, or cause to be put or to fall or flow or to be carried into any stream, so as to pollute its waters, any noxious or polluting solid or liquid matter or thing.
Keeping of swine
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126. A swine shall not be kept within the boundaries of any town.
-
127. Persons keeping swine outside the boundaries of towns shall keep such swine under such control as may be notified to such persons by the sanitary authority.
-
128. The walls and the floor of every pig-sty shall be constructed of durable material and the surface of the walls and of the floor shall be rendered impervious to moisture. The floor shall not in any part be below the level of the adjoining ground, and shall be laid out with a proper slope towards a suitable drain-gully of approved construction, placed outside the pig-sty. A properly constructed water-tight roof shall be provided for at least 1/3 of the area of the pig-sty.
-
129. A pig-sty shall not be erected within a distance of 50 feet of any dwelling-house or dairy or of any public road, except with the express consent of the sanitary authority previously obtained in writing.
-
130. Every pig-sty shall be thoroughly cleansed at least once a week and oftener if required by the sanitary authority, so as to prevent such pig-sty from becoming a nuisance, and the owner shall lime-wash the walls if the sanitary authority so requires.
-
131. The occupier of any premises whereon swine are being kept shall—
-
(a) cause the dung thereof to be so buried as to create no mound on such premises;
-
(b) adopt all precautions as may reasonably be necessary to prevent the emission of noxious or offensive effluvium arising from such swine dung or sties; and
-
(c) shall maintain all swine and sties in a sanitary condition.
Infectious Diseases, Epidemics, etc. Plague, Cholera, Small-Pox, Typhoid, Typhus, Relapsing Fever, and Yellow Fever
-
132. In these Regulations unless the context otherwise requires—
“a contact” means a person who, in the opinion of the medical officer in charge of a patient, has been exposed to infection by or through such patient;
“district medical officer” includes the Resident Surgeon of the Victoria Hospital;
“epidemic”, “endemic”, “contagious” or “infectious disease” includes plague, cholera, small-pox, typhoid, typhus, relapsing fever or yellow fever or any other disease which may be notified as such;
“isolation station” includes any premises, house, room or place in which any patient or contact is isolated;
“observation station” includes any premises, house, room, or place in which any contact is placed under observation;
“patient” means a person who, in the opinion of a medical officer, presents symptoms of plague, cholera, small-pox, typhoid, typhus, relapsing fever or yellow fever;
“small pox” includes Alastrim and other anomalous forms of varioloid disease;
“typhoid” includes paratyphoid.
-
133.
-
(1) The owner or occupier of any premises, house or room, on the occurrence therein of any case of plague, cholera, small-pox, typhoid or yellow fever, or of any case showing symptoms of any of those diseases, or any other person who may become aware of the existence of any such case, shall notify the medical officer of the district in which such premises, house or room is situate or the officer in charge of the police station nearest to such premises, house or room, of such case.
-
(2) The owner or occupier of any premises, house, or room, on the occurrence therein of any case of chicken pox or of any case showing symptoms of chicken pox or any other person who may become aware of the existence of any such case, shall notify the medical officer of the district in which such premises, house, or room is situate, or the officer in charge of the police station nearest to such premises, house, or room, of such case.
-
(3) The officer in charge of a police station upon being so notified shall inform the said district medical officer of such notification.
-
134. If any medical officer is satisfied that any person presents symptoms of plague, cholera, small-pox, typhoid, yellow fever, typhus or relapsing fever the following steps shall be taken —
-
(a) the medical officer shall forthwith notify the Senior Medical Officer;
-
(b) he or she shall cause the patient to be isolated in the same premises, house or room in which the patient then is, if, in his or her opinion, such premises, house or room is so situated as to permit of the effectual isolation of the patient, until he or she is satisfied that the patient is no longer infectious; if in his or her opinion the patient cannot be effectually isolated in such premises, house or room, he or she shall cause the patient to be removed to an Isolation Station or in the case of typhoid to a general hospital and there isolated until the medical officer in charge of such Station or hospital is satisfied that the patient is no longer infectious;
-
(c) he or she shall cause the immediate attendants of any such patient to be isolated in the same premises, house or room with the patient or in some other Isolation Station, as he or she shall think fit.
-
The period of isolation of such attendants shall be as follows —
Where the patient presents symptoms of plague | 6 days. |
Where the patient presents symptoms of cholera | 5 days. |
Where the patient presents symptoms of smallpox | 14 days. |
Where the patient presents symptoms of yellow fever | 6 days. |
Where the patient presents symptoms of typhus | 14 days. |
Where the patient presents symptoms of relapsing fever | 8 days; |
-
(d) he or she shall cause contacts, other than the patient's immediate attendants, to be isolated for the aforesaid respective periods in the isolation station, or placed under observation for the same periods in the Observation Station unless he or she is satisfied that they are immune;
-
(e) he or she shall cause the clothes of all patients and contacts, and all articles which, in his or her opinion, have been infected by patients or contacts, to be disinfected or destroyed as he or she shall think fit;
-
(f) he or she may cause all contacts to be immunised;
-
(g) paragraphs (c) and (d) shall not apply to cases of typhoid fever.
-
134A
-
(1) If any medical officer is satisfied that any person presents symptoms of tuberculosis, meningococcal infection, anthrax, leprosy or rabies he or she shall notify the Senior Medical Officer, giving the name and address of such person.
-
(2) Every medical officer shall at the end of each week notify the Senior Medical Officer of the number of cases seen by him or her during that week of the following diseases:
-
Acute poliomyelitis.
-
Amoebiasis.
-
Bacillary dysentery.
-
Dysentery (other forms).
-
Chicken pox.
-
Influenza.
-
Malaria.
-
Measles.
-
Ophthalmia neonatorum.
-
Whooping cough.
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(3) At the end of each month every medical officer shall notify the Senior Medical Officer of the number of deaths which to his or her knowledge have occurred during the month from any of the diseases mentioned in this and in the preceding section of these Regulations.
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(4) Every medical practitioner who sees professionally any person whom he or she suspects to be suffering from malaria shall take or cause to be taken from such person a blood film which he or she shall send to the Victoria Hospital Laboratory for examination. For every such blood film found to contain malaria parasites in the sexual or asexual form the medical practitioner concerned shall be paid by Government a fee of $1.
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135. Patients and contacts shall be visited daily by a medical officer, except in cases of typhoid fever.
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136. Except in cases of typhoid fever, a contact may be liberated or exempted from isolation, but subject to surveillance, at the discretion of the medical officer in charge. Before so liberating or exempting a contact a medical officer must be satisfied that it is reasonably probable that the contact will duly comply with the conditions of surveillance, and such liberation or exemption shall be subject to the following conditions—
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(a) the contact must give the medical officer his or her full name and the address of his or her usual place of abode;
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(b) the period of surveillance shall be—
In the case of plague | 6 days. |
In the case of cholera | 5 days. |
In the case of small-pox | 14 days. |
In the case of yellow fever | 6 days. |
In the case of typhus | 14 days. |
In the case of relapsing fever | 8 days |
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(c) during surveillance the contact must reside at such place and remain within such area as the medical officer shall prescribe;
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(d) during surveillance the contact must present himself or herself to the medical officer for medical supervision at such place and at such hour and so many times daily as the medical officer shall direct;
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(e) the medical officer may require the contact to deposit with him or her a sum not exceeding $9.60 which sum may, at the discretion of the medical officer, be forfeited if the contact shall fail to comply in any particular with the terms of the last preceding condition in paragraph (d) above; and such forfeiture shall be in addition to any penalty which the contact may incur for any breach of this regulation;
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(f) if, after such liberation or exemption, the contact shall, in the opinion of the medical officer, fail to comply in any particular with any of the above conditions, the medical officer may, in addition to the forfeiture aforesaid, cause the contact to be placed and detained in isolation for the remainder of the period prescribed in regulation 134(c) above.
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137. The medical officer in charge may cause necessaries to be provided for persons in isolation or under surveillance, if, in his or her opinion, they are unable to do so on account of poverty or other good cause.
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138. Patients shall be under the care and direction of the medical officer in charge, who shall see to the general sanitary management of each case, to the disinfection of infected houses and articles and to the disposal of all discharges.
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139. If plague, cholera, small-pox, typhoid or yellow fever becomes epidemic, a house to house inspection of the infected district shall be made daily by sanitary inspectors, who shall report to the district medical officer any case of illness found, and they shall also send general reports of such inspections to the district medical officer at such times as he or she shall direct.
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140.
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(1) In the event of death from any epidemic, endemic, contagious or infectious disease, the head of the household or occupier of the building in which the death occurred, or the person last in charge of the deceased as the case may be, shall give notice of the death at the nearest police station, and such person shall be responsible that the body shall be wrapped in a sheet soaked in a disinfectant approved by a medical officer, and shall be placed in a wooden coffin, and shall be removed as soon as practicable to a place appointed by the Governor General for the burial of persons dying from such diseases, or to any place for burial at any time as prescribed by a medical officer in a grave unless otherwise prescribed, not less than eight feet in depth and in quick lime if possible.
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(2) A grave in which the body of a person dying from any such disease shall have been buried shall not be re-opened for any reason whatsoever, except by the order of a coroner or other lawful authority.
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(3) Holding of “wakes” and exposure of the corpse of any person who has died from any epidemic, endemic, contagious or infectious disease to visitors at the house, room, yard or mortuary is prohibited.
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(4) These Regulations are in addition to and not in derogation of any statutory provision or regulation governing burials in such cases, or the giving of any notice or information concerning death to a District Registrar of Civil Status or otherwise.
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141.
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(1) A person, unless authorised by a medical officer in charge, shall not enter any premises, house or room, in which a death from plague, cholera, small-pox, typhoid or yellow fever has occurred before the same shall have been disinfected.
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(2) Any person so entering is liable to be treated as a contact in addition to any penalty which he or she may incur for a breach of this regulation, except in cases of typhoid fever.
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142. Every medical officer shall have power, if he or she deems it necessary, to make an anatomical examination of the body of any person whom he or she suspects to have died of plague, cholera, small-pox, typhoid or yellow fever.
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143. For the purpose of destroying mosquitoes, a district medical officer shall have power to take any steps he or she may deem necessary for disinfecting by fumigation or otherwise, and for screening, any house or premises within his or her district in which a patient suspected of having yellow fever had been or is, or any other houses or premises which, in his or her opinion, are within the range of infection from such house or premises.
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144. The medical officer shall have power, with the approval of the Governor General, to order the evacuation of any houses or premises which, in his or her opinion, are within the range of infection from such house or premises.
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145. All houses, premises or places where patients are isolated shall be guarded by the Police, whose duty it shall be to enforce such isolation; and no person whatsoever, except the medical officer in charge or such other person as may be authorised by him or her, shall enter or quit any such house, premises or place, provided that any member of the clergy refused admission shall have the right of appeal to the Senior Medical Officer.
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146. If on any trial any question shall arise whether any person is a district medical officer or a medical officer in charge of an isolation station or of a patient or contact, his or her own evidence thereof, or any other evidence of his or her having acted as such, shall be sufficient.
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147. The sanitary authority may declare as a prohibited area any town or place where an infectious disease has occurred.
When such declaration has been made, the sanitary authority may prescribe in writing as to all or any of the following matters—
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(a) to inspect and grant passes to persons travelling by air, sea, or land from such place where the infectious disease has occurred;
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(b) to establish a cordon round any place where an infectious disease has occurred or otherwise prevent persons departing from or going to any such place;
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(c) to give power to any justice of the peace, police, or rural constable or any servant of the sanitary authority to arrest without warrant any person who may leave, attempt to leave or enter any place which has been declared to be a prohibited area.
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148. The sanitary authority may at any time prescribe by notice to be published, save in emergency, in the Gazette—
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(a) for making it compulsory for all persons to be vaccinated and fixing the conditions under which the same shall be performed. Provided that any person who shall be certified by a medical officer to be medically unfit for vaccination shall be exempt therefrom for such period as may be stated in such certificate;
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(b) for fixing the towns, villages and places in which vaccination shall be compulsory.
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The sanitary authority may on the arrival in Saint Lucia of any person or persons from any place without Saint Lucia where any disease is known to be prevalent give directions to such person or persons for the safeguarding of the public health. Failure to comply with such directions shall be deemed to be an offence against these Regulations.
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149. The owner or occupier of any premises, house, or room, on the occurrence therein of any case of tuberculosis, relapsing fever, typhus fever, dysentery, cerebro-spinal fever, acute poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis), influenza, or pneumonia, or of any case shewing symptoms of any of those diseases, or any other person who may become aware of the existence of any such case, shall notify the medical officer of the district in which such premises, house or room is situate, or the officer in charge of the police station nearest to such premises, house, or room, of such case. The Senior Medical Officer is hereby authorised and he or she shall have power to issue directions through a sanitary officer or otherwise, in accordance with the circumstances of each case notified, which directions shall be carried out by all persons to whom they shall be communicated and by all persons concerned.
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150.
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(1) It shall be lawful for the Governor General whenever it is considered necessary to do so in order to prevent the spread of any disease to issue orders or directions for the closing of schools or other institutions, places of public entertainment or other places where gatherings of persons take place, or for the cessation of holding church services, or meetings of societies or other associations, or other public gatherings during such period and under such conditions, if any, as he or she may be advised and until the danger of the spread of such disease in such cases is considered to be past.
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(2) Every person who contravenes any such order or directions—
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(a) after publication thereof in the Gazette;
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(b) issued to him or her after the same shall have been brought to his or her notice, shall on summary conviction be liable to a penalty of $48.
Destruction of Rats
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151.
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(1) When the sanitary officer is satisfied that any premises provide haunts for rats or are infested with rats, he or she may require the occupier or owner of the premises, by notice in writing, to take such steps as he or she may prescribe in such notice, after the expiration of 24 hours from the service of the notice and within such time as may be stated in the notice, for the purpose of ridding the premises of rats and of abolishing their haunts.
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(2) After the expiration of such 24 hours, if the notice has not been complied with, the sanitary officer may thereupon cause such steps to be taken for the purposes aforesaid as he or she may deem necessary, without any further notice; and any expenses incurred in taking such steps may be recovered by the health officer before a district court as a debt from the occupier or owner failing to comply with such notice. The payment of such expenses shall not exempt the defaulting occupier or owner from any penalty prescribed for non-compliance with such notice.
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(3) Any such notice may be served by delivering the same or a true copy thereof—
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(a) to the occupier or owner of the premises;
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(b) to some adult person on the premises; or
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(c) if no adult person is found on the premises, by posting such notice or a true copy thereof on some conspicuous part of the premises.
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(4) It shall be sufficient if the occupier or owner of premises is designated in any notice under this regulation as the “Occupier,” or “Owner”, without name or further description.
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(5) For the purpose of taking such steps as aforesaid the sanitary officer may act through any agent or servant authorised by him or her in writing generally in that behalf: and if premises are locked or otherwise secured against entrance they may be unlocked or opened by force, if necessary, by the sanitary officer or by any person specially authorised by him or her in writing in that behalf.
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(6) In the application of this regulation to any premises which consists of land more than 50 yards from a dwelling house or building the sanitary officer may, at his or her discretion, cause the steps aforesaid to be taken without previous notice, and in such case neither the occupier nor the owner is liable for the payment of any expenses incurred in taking such steps.
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152.
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(1) The person in possession of any tree within—
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(a) an area including the City of Castries and extending to a distance of one half of a mile from the boundaries of that town; and
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(b) an area extending to a distance of 1/2 mile from the shores of the Harbour of Castries, provided that the wharves of the Harbour shall not be deemed to be included in the expression “shores”;
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(c) the boundaries of any other town,
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shall cause to be placed around the trunk thereof a band of tin or zinc in such a condition and manner as to render the tree inaccessible to rats, and shall cause any such tree to be trimmed, within 24 hours after the service upon him or her of a notice from the sanitary officer requiring him or her so to do.
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(2) The sanitary officer may cause to be cut down or trimmed any such tree which is not duly provided with such a band, or is not trimmed, in accordance with such notice.
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153. A person shall not disturb or in any way interfere with any rattrap or other appliance set anywhere for the purpose of catching or destroying rats, or any band of tin or zinc around the trunk of any tree within the above areas.
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154. The sanitary officer, his or her authorised agents and servants, and all members of the sanitary authority may enter any premises or any part thereof between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of examining the same to ascertain whether such premises are infested with rats or provide haunts for rats, and generally for the purpose of carrying out these Regulations : Provided that it shall be lawful for the sanitary officer and other such persons aforesaid to enter any premises (other than dwelling rooms) up to the hour of 9 p.m. for the purpose of setting or removing rat-traps or other appliances for catching or destroying rats.
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155. In the above regulations numbered 151 to 154—
“haunts of rats” includes any rat-hole, drain, accumulation of garbage or refuse matter, or any place or thing which in the opinion of the sanitary officer is likely to harbour rats;
“premises” includes land, houses, stores, warehouses, shops, buildings or structures of any kind, banks and beds of rivers, streams, drains or ditches, and also includes vessels lying in any harbour or bay in Saint Lucia: Provided that with regard to vessels coming from without Saint Lucia no steps shall be taken which are contrary to the provisions of any law in force relating to quarantine.
Power of Entry
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156.
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(1) Without prejudice to any provision for the purpose of carrying out any of the objects of these Regulations the sanitary authority, any person duly authorised by the sanitary authority, any sanitary officer, or any medical officer may enter between the hours of 7:00 in the morning and 6:00 in the afternoon, after one hour's notice previously given, into any dwelling-house and may enter at all reasonable hours, including all hours during which business in any premises is in progress or is usually carried on, any warehouse, store, shop, bakehouse, slaughterhouse, aerated water factory, cellar, stable, outbuilding, yard, lands or other premises whatever.
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157. The provisions of these Regulations shall apply to every ship, vessel, boat, tent, van, shed or similar structures used for human habitation in like manner as nearly as may be as if it were a building.
Reservation of Rules for Towns and Villages
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158. Nothing in these Regulations shall interfere with the operation of any rule, regulation or by-law, duly made under statutory authority, for the management, order and good government of any town or village.
Miscellaneous
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159. Any person who spits in a public place commits an offence against these Regulations.
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160. Any person suffering from any dangerous or infectious or contagious disease or sore or other form of disease, who, in the opinion of the sanitary authority duly certified by the chairperson in writing is without proper lodging or accommodation, may, on a certificate signed by a medical officer be removed by order of a magistrate of the district court to any hospital or other institution situated within Saint Lucia.
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161. The importation into Saint Lucia of any used or second hand article of clothing, including footwear and headwear, other than the personal effects of a person entering Saint Lucia, is prohibited unless such article is accompanied by a certificate of disinfection and dis-insectation as shall be approved by the Authority.
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162. Despite anything in these Regulations, from and after July 1956 every medical certificate of health and fitness required under these Regulations shall have affixed to it a passport photograph of the holder and shall be in the form prescribed in the Schedule to these Regulations: Subject to the provisions of regulation 163 of these Regulations, every such medical certificate shall be renewed in the months of January and July of each year.
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163.
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(1) If it appears to any local authority that any person who under these Regulations is required to be in possession of a certificate of health and fitness, is suffering from any infectious or contagious disease or is not in a fit state of health the local authority may call upon the person suspected of disease or unfitness to procure from a medical practitioner a certificate of health and fitness, although such person may possess such a certificate issued within the preceding 6 months.
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(2) A person so called upon shall, until he or she furnishes to the local authority a satisfactory medical certificate of health and fitness, cease to engage in his or her trade, business or employment and in the case of an employee it shall be lawful for his or her employer to suspend him or her immediately and to give him or her notice of dismissal in accordance with the terms of any contract or prevailing trade custom or usage.
Schedule
CERTIFICATE OF HEALTH AND FITNESS. |
PUBLIC HEALTH REGULATIONS. |
I hereby certify that (a) ............................................................................... of (b) .................................... whose photograph is attached hereto is free from infectious or contagious disease and fit to be employed as a (c) |
Date ................................................ |
...................................................... |
Medical Practitioner. |
Renewals. | |
This certificate is renewed until the date indicated below: | PHOTOGRAPH OF HOLDER |
Renewed to (d) | Signature of (e) Medical Practitioner | Renewal to (d) | Signature of (e) Medical Practitioner | |
| | | | .............................................. |
| | | | Signature of Holder |
| | | | (a) | Name of Holder. |
| | | | (b) | Address of Holder. |
| | | | (c) | Trade or business of Holder. |
| | | | (d) | 30 June or 31 December as case may be and insert year. |
| | | | (e) | Signature of Medical Practitioner renewing Certificate. |