Mr. R. W. Brownasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she is aware of the anxiety of workers in the furniture industry about the large amount of adhesives and other inflammable materials stored in factory areas which constitute a fire hazard; and if she will take immediate steps to have all furniture manufacturing factories examined to ensure compliance with safety regulations in respect of inflammable materials.
§ Mr. FernyhoughIn view of the recent disastrous fire in a Glasgow furniture factory, I am urgently considering whether, pending the Report of the Fatal Accident Inquiry which is to deal with that case, there is any special additional action which the Factory Inspectorate should take to identify and deal with factories where problems of compliance with the fire provisions of the Factories Act are particularly acute. As regards the special case of furniture factories, I shall give further consideration to the risks, especially those involved in the newer materials such as foam plastics, in the light of the Fatal Accident Inquiry Report.
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