Hazardous process
Leather Tanning Industries
A hazardous process listed in the First Schedule to the Factories Act 1948 (s.2(cb)).
Typical industries: Chrome and vegetable tanneries, leather finishing.
Principal hazards
- Chromium (III/VI) salts
- Hydrogen sulphide and ammonia (soaking/liming, effluent pits)
- Lime, acids, biocides and solvents (finishing)
- Biological agents (anthrax from hides)
Health effects
Chrome ulcers, dermatitis and nasal-septum perforation, possible sinonasal/lung cancer, H2S poisoning, anthrax, respiratory irritation.
Key engineering controls
H2S monitoring and ventilation of pits/effluent areas with confined-space controls; enclosed drums and LEV at spraying/buffing; effluent chrome recovery; hide disinfection; substitution toward chrome-free tanning.
PPE
- H2S monitors and respirators
- Chrome-resistant gloves, aprons and boots
- Solvent/spray respirators in finishing
- Goggles
- Waterproof clothing
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.
MedFactoryTrack statutory health surveillance for this process.
Open MedFactory →