Hazardous process
Extraction of oils and fats from vegetable and animal sources
A hazardous process listed in the First Schedule to the Factories Act 1948 (s.2(cb)).
Typical industries: Solvent-extraction (hexane) oil mills and rendering/fat-processing plants.
Principal hazards
- n-Hexane solvent (flammable, neurotoxic)
- Fire and explosion (solvent vapour)
- Heat/steam; dust; biological agents (animal sources)
Health effects
Hexane peripheral neuropathy, narcosis, flash-fire/explosion burns, scalds, dermatitis, infection risk (rendering).
Key engineering controls
Closed solvent-extraction systems with vapour/LEL detection and inerting; solvent recovery and ventilation; hot-work permits and intrinsically safe equipment; biological/hygiene controls for animal material; exposure monitoring.
PPE
- Organic-vapour respirators
- Anti-static FR clothing and gloves
- Goggles
- Personal LEL/solvent monitors
- Safety boots
Statutory vs annotation: only the industry name is First-Schedule statutory text. The hazards, health effects, controls and PPE are standard occupational-hygiene practice, not statutory text.
This page is a statutory / occupational-health reference for factory Occupational Health Centres. It is not medical or legal advice. Verify against the current bare Act, Rules and your State amendments before acting.
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