Process of Extracting Oils and Fats in Solvent Extraction Plants.
1. Definitions. (a) “Competent Person” for the purpose of this schedule shall be at least member or an Associate Member of the instruction of Engineers (India) with ten years experience in a responsible position as may be approved by the Chief Inspector :
Provided that a Graduate in Mechanical Engineering or Chemical Technology with specialised knowledge of Oils and Fats and with a minimum experience of five years in a solvent extraction plant shall also be considered to be competent person:
Provided further that the State Government may accept any other qualifications, if in its opinion, they are equivalent to the qualifications aforesaid;
(b) “Flame-proof” enclosure” as applied to electrical machinery or apparatus means an enclosure that will withstand, when covers or other access doors are properly secured, an internal explosion of the flammable gas or vapour which may enter or which may originate inside the enclosure without suffering damage and without communicating internal inflammation (or explosion) to the external flammable gas or vapour.
(c) “Solvent” means an inflammable liquid such as Pentane Hexane and Heptane used for the extraction of vegetable oils;
(d) “Solvent Extraction Plant”, means a plant in which the process of extracting oils and fats by use of solvents is carried on;
2. Location and Lay out. - (a) No solvent Extraction plant shall be constructed or extended to within a distance of thirty meters from the nearest residential locality.
(b) a continuous wire fencing shall be provided around the solvent extraction plant up to a minimum distance of 15 metres from the plant and the fencing so provided shall be not less than 1.5 metres in height.
(c) No person shall be allowed to carry any matches or an open flame or fire inside the area bound by the fencing.
(d) Boiler houses and other building where open flame process are carried on shall be located at least thirty metres away from the solvent extraction plant.
(e) If godowns and preparatory processes are at less than thirty metres distance from the solvent extraction plant, there shall be atleast 15 metres distance from the plant, and a continuous barrier wall of non-combustible material 1.5 metres high from the solvent extraction plant so that it extends to atleast 30 metres of vapour travel around its ends from the Plant to the possible sources of ignition.
3. Electrical Installation. - (a) All electrical motors, electrical wiring system, the electric lamps, switches, circuit breakers and all other electrical equipment used within the premises of a factory where extraction of oil is being carried on with the help of solvents shall be of flame proof construction and should be suitable for use in areas where Hexane or similar types of solvents or vapours are likely to exist.
(b) All metal parts of the plant and building including various tanks and containers where Solvents are stored or are present and all parts of electrical equipment not required to be energised shall be properly bounded together and connected to the earth so as to avoid accidental rise on the electrical potential of such part above the earth potential.
4. Restriction on Smoking. - Smoking shall be strictly prohibited within 15 metres distance from solvent extraction plant. For this purpose `No Smoking’ signs shall be permanently displayed in the areas.
5. Precaution against friction. - (a) All tools and equipments including ladders, chains, and other lifting tackle required to be used in solvent Extraction Plant shall be of non-sparking type.
(b) No machinery or equipment in Solvent Extraction Plant shall be belt driven unless the belt used is of such a type that it does not permit accumulation of static electricity to a dangerous level;
(c) No person shall be allowed to enter in the Solvent Extraction Plant if wearing clothes made of Nylon or such other Fibre that can generate static electrical charge, or wearing foot-wear which is likely to cause sparks by friction.
6. Fire-fighting apparatus. - (a) An adequate number of portable fire extinguisher suitable for use against flammable liquid fire shall be provided in the solvent extraction plant.
(b) An automatic water spray sprinkler system on a wet pipe or open head deluge system with a sufficient supply of storage water shall be provided over the solvent extraction plant and throughout the building housing such plant.
7. Precaution against power failure. - (a) Provision shall be made for the automatic cutting off of steam in the event of power failure and also for emergency overhead water supply for feeding water by gravity to condensers which shall came into play automatically with the power failure.
8. Magnetic separators. --- Oil-cake shall be fed to the extractor by a conveyor through a hopper and a magnetic separator shall be provided to remove any piece of iron during its transfer.
9. Venting. - (a) Tanks containing solvents shall be protected with emergency venting to relieve excessive internal pressure in the event of fire.
(b) All emergency relief vents shall be terminated at least 6 metres above the ground and be so located that vapours will not re-enter the building in which solvent extraction plant is located.
10. Waster water. - Process waste water shall be passed through a flash evaporator to remove any solvent any solvent before it is discharged into a sump which should be located within the fenced area but not closer than eight metres to the fence.
11. Ventilation. - The Solvent Extraction Plant shall be well ventilated and if the Plant is housed in a building, the building shall be provided with mechanical ventilation with provision for atleast six air changes per house.
12. House-keeping. -(a) Solvent shall be stored in an area covered by solvent extraction plant except in small quantity which shall be stored in approved safety cans;
(b) Waste materials such as oily rags, other waste and absorbents used to wipe off solvent and paints and oils shall be deposited in approved containers and removed from the premises at least once a day;
(c) Space with the solvent extraction plant and within 15 metres from the Plant shall be kept free from any combustible materials and any spills of oils or solvent shall be cleared up immediately.
13. Examination and Repairs. - (a) The solvent extraction plant shall be examined by the competent person to determine any weakness or corrosion and wear, once in every 12 months. Report of such examinations shall be supplied to the Inspector with his observations as to whether nor not the Plant is in safe condition to work.
(b) No repairs shall be carried out to the machinery or plant except under the direct supervision of the competent person.
(c) Facility shall be provided for purging the plant with inert gas or steam before opening for cleaning or repairs and before introducing solvent after repairs.
14. Operating personnel. - The operation of the plant and machinery in the solvent extraction plant shall be in the charge of such duly qualified and trained persons as are certified by the competent persons to be fit for the purpose and no other person shall be allowed to operate the plant machinery.
15. Employment of woman and young persons. --- No woman or young persons shall be employed in the solvent extraction plant.
16. Vapour Detection. --- A suitable type of the flame-proof and portable combustible gas indicator shall be provided and maintained in good working order and a schedule of routine sampling of atmosphere at various locations as approved by the Chief Inspector shall be drawn out and entered in a register maintained for the purpose.
17. Exemption. --- If in respect of any factory, the Chief Inspector is satisfied that owing to the exceptional circumstances or infrequency of the processes or for any other reasons, all or any of the provisions of this Schedule are not necessary for the protection and welfare of workers in the factory, the Chief Inspector may by a certificate in writing (which he may in his discretion revoke at any time) exempt such factory from all or any of such provisions subject to such conditions, if any, as he may specify therein.