Schedule XXII

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.

(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.

4.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.

5. 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.

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 the 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 extruder by a conveyor through a hopper and

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

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 metres above the ground and be so located

that vapourswill not re-enter the building in which the 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 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 at least six air

changes per hour.

12. 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.

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 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.

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 operate the plant and machinery.

15. Employment of women and young persons.—No pregnant women or young person shall be

employed in the solvent extraction plant.

Provided that women workers may be employed with their consent to work subject to the

following conditions :-

(1) International Safety standards shall be adopted by the occupier for providing Occupational

Safety and Health (OSH).

(2) The occupier shall, as far as possible, modernise the above processes/places from time to time

and will use modern equipments.

(3) Women workers who are feeding mothers shall be exempted from the Employment.

16. 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.