Schedule H (xx)

PROCESS OF EXTRACTING OILS AND FATS FROM VEGETABLE AND ANIMAL SOURCE IN

SOLVENT EXTRACTION PLANTS:

1. Definitions.—For the purposes of this Schedule—

(a) "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-

cum- Facilitator:

Provided that a graduate in mechanical engineering or chemical engineering

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 be 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.

(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 recovery of vegetable oils;

(d) "solvent extraction plant" means a plant in which the process of extracting oils and fats

from vegetable and animal sources by the use of solvents is carried on.

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 metre high continuous wire fencing shall be provided around the solvent extraction

plant up to a minimum distance of 15 meters from the plant.

(3) No person shall be allowed to carry any matches or an open flame of fire inside the area

bounded by the fencing.

(4) Boiler houses and other buildings were open flame processes are carried on shall be

located at least 30 metres away from the solvent extraction plant.

(5) If godowns and preparatory process are at a distance of less than 30 meters from the

solvent extraction plant, these shall be at least 15 metres distant from the plant, and a

continuous barrier wall of non-combustible material 1.5 meters high shall be erected at

distance of not less than 15 meters from the solvent extraction plant so that it extends to

at a 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 either electrical equipment

installed or housed in a solvent extraction plant shall be of flame proof construction.

4. (2) All metal parts of the plant and building including various tanks and containers where

solvents are stored 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.

5. Restrictions on smoking.—Smoking shall be strictly prohibited within 15 meters distance from a

solvent extraction plant. For this purpose, "No Smoking" signs shall be permanently displayed

in the areas.

6. Precautions against friction.—(1) All tools and equipment including ladders, chains and other

lifting tackle required to be used in a solvent extraction plant shall be of non-sparking type.

(2) No machinery or equipment in a solvent extraction plant shall be belt driven.

(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.

7. 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 the solvent extraction plant

and throughout the building housing such plant.

8. 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.

9. Magnetic separators.—Oil cake shall be fed to the extruder by a conveyor through a hopper

and a magnetic separator shall be provided to remove any pieces of iron during its transfer.

10. 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 metres above the ground and be so

located that vapours will not re-enter the building in which the solvent extraction plant is

located.

11. 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 eight metres to the fence.

12. 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.

13. Housekeeping.—(1) Solvent shall not be stored in an area covered by a 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 from any combustible materials and any spills of oil or solvent, shall be cleaned

up immediately.

14. 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 cum facilitator 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 before opening for cleaning

or repairs and before introducing solvent after repairs.

15. 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 operate the

plant and machinery.

16. Employment of women and young persons.—No women or young person shall be employed in

the solvent extraction plant.

17. Vapour detection.—A suitable type of flame proof and portable combustible gas indicator shall

be provided and maintained in good working order and a Schedule routine sampling of

atmosphere at various locations approved by the Chief Inspector-cum- Facilitator shall be

drawn out and entered in a register maintained for the purpose.