Process
of extracting oils and
fats from vegetables and animal
sources in solvent extraction plants
1.
Definitions - For the
purposes of this schedule –
(a)
“solvent
extraction plant” means a plant in which the process of extracting
oils and fats from vegetable and animal sources by use of solvents is carried on;
(b)
“solvent” means
an flammable liquid such as pentane, hexane and heptane use for
the recovery of vegetable oils;
(c)
“flameproof
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;
(d)
“competent person” for the purpose of this schedule shall
be at least a member of the Institution of Engineers ( India)
or an Associate Member of the said
Institution with 10 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 5
years in a solvent extraction
plant shall also be considered
to the a competent person.
Provided further that the State
Government may accept any other qualifications if in its opinion they are
equivalent to the qualifications
aforesaid.
2. Location
and layout - (1) No solvent extraction plant shall be permitted to be
constructed or extended to within a
distance of 30 meters from the nearest
residential locality.
(2)
A 1.5 meter
high continuous wire fencing shall be provided around the solvent/ extraction plant upto a minimum distance of 15
meters from the plant.
(3)
No person shall be allowed to carry any matches or an
open flame or fire inside the area bound by the fencing.
(4)
Boiler houses and other buildings where open flame
processes are carried on shall be located at least 30 meters away
from the solvent extraction
plant;
(5)
If godowns and preparatory processes are at a
distance of less than 30 metres from the solvent extraction plant, these shall
be at least 15 meters distant from the plant, and a continuous barrier wall of non-combustible material 1.5 meters
high shall be erected at a distance of not less than 15 meters from the solvent
extraction plant so that it
extends to at least 30 meters of vapour
travel around its ends from the plant to the possible sources of ignition.
3.
Electrical installations -
(1) All electrical motors and wiring and other electrical equipment installed or housed insolvent extraction
plant shall be of flameproof
construction.
(2) 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 bonded together and connected
to earth so as to avoid accidental rise in the electrical
potential of such parts above the earth
potential.
4.
Restriction on smoking - Smoking shall strictly prohibited within 15
meters distance from solvent extraction plant.
For this purpose, “NO smoking”
sings shall be permanently displayed in the area.
5.
Precautions against friction -
(1)All tools and equipment including ladders, chains and other lifting tackle required to be used in
solvent extraction plant shall be of
non-sparking type.
(2) No machinery
or equipment in any 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.
(3) No person
shall be allowed to enter and work in
the solvent extraction plant if wearing clothes made of
nylon or such other fibre that can generate static electrical charge, or
wearing footwear which is likely to
cause sparks by friction.
6.
Fire fighting apparatus -
(1) Adequate number of portable fire extinguishers suitable for use against flammable liquid fires shall be provided in the solvent extraction plant.
(2) An automatic
water spray sprinkler system on a wet pipe or open-head deluge system with
sufficient supply of storage water shall be provided over solvent extraction
plant and throughout the building
housing such plant.
7. Precautions
against power failure - 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 come into
play automatically with the power failure.
8. Magnetic Separators - Oil cake shall be fed to the extractor by a conveyer
through a hopper
and a magnetic separator shall
be provided to remove any pieces of
iron during pressure in the event of fire.
9. Venting -
(1)Tanks containing solvents shall be protected with emergency venting to
relieve excessive internal pressure in the
event of fire.
(2) All emergency
relief vents shall terminate at least 6 meters above the ground and be so
located that vapours will not re-enter the building in which solvent
extraction plant is located.
10. Waste
water - Process waste water shall be passed through a flash evaporator to
remove any solvent before it is discharged into a sump which should be located
within the fenced area but not closer than 8
meters 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 at least six air changes per hour.
12. Housekeeping
- (1) Solvents shall not be stored in an area covered by solvent extraction
plant except in small quantities which
shall be stored in approved safety
cans.
(2) Waste
materials such as oily rags, other wastes 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.
(3) Space within
the solvent extraction plant and within 15 meters from the plant shall be kept
free form any combustible materials and any spills of oil or solvent, shall be
cleaned up immediately.
13. Examination
and repairs - (1) 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 examination shall be
supplied to the Inspector with his observation as to whether or not
the plant is in safe condition to work.
(2) No repairs
shall be carried out to the machinery
or plant except under the direct
supervision of the competent person.
(3) 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 person to be fit for the purpose and no other person shall
be allowed to operated the plant and machinery.
15.
Employment
of women and young persons -
No woman or young person shall be employed
in the solvent extraction plant.
16.
Vapour
detection - A suitable type of
flameproof and portable combustible gas indicator shall be provided and
maintained in good working
order and a schedule of routine sampling of atmosphere at various
location 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
reason, all or any of the provisions of this schedule is not necessary for the protection of the
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 conditions, if any, as he may specify therein.
