William Hugh Cardinan Prideaux
William Hugh Cardinan Prideaux (1884-1936)
1937 Obituary [1]
WILLIAM HUGH CARDINAN PRIDEAUX, whose death occurred on 2nd April 1936, whilst he was on leave in England, was chief inspector of factories, Burma and Shan States. He was born at Bognor, Sussex, in 1884, and was educated at Shrewsbury. In 1903 he entered Faraday House, London, and during the next three years he distinguished himself by gaining several prizes and medals in connection with his studies in electrical engineering.
He served his apprenticeship with Messrs. Dick, Kerr and Company, Ltd., Preston, and in 1906 he was made an assistant in the testing department of the British Westinghouse Electrical and Manufacturing Company. Two years later he was appointed demonstrator in electrical engineering at the Imperial College of Science and Technology, South Kensington, and in 1909 he secured the first place in the examination results for H.M. inspectors of factories. He was made a factory inspector in the same year, and in 1913 he went to Burma as Government inspector of factories, becoming chief inspector in 1923. For three lengthy periods he also officiated as electrical inspector and adviser to the Government of Burma, and he also acted as adviser to the Government on petroleum refineries.
During 1932-3 he spent several months at the Home Office, London, studying explosives, to prepare himself for taking over the additional duties of inspector of explosives, Burma. Mr. Prideaux introduced numerous improvements into working conditions in factories in Burma, especially in securing the adequate guarding and fencing of machinery. He also introduced improved ventilation, temperature and humidity control, and proper methods of water supply. In addition, he was responsible for introducing safety methods in oil production, refining, and storage. He was prominently associated with the revision of the Indian Factory Rules, and in their application in Burma.
In 1934 he was elected a Member of the Institution, and he was also a Member of the Institution of Electrical Engineers.