Leather Tanning Industries

Industries / examples: Chrome and vegetable tanneries, leather finishing.

Principal hazards & agents

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.

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 entry name and its sub-items are First-Schedule text. The hazard, health-effect, control and PPE notes are occupational-hygiene context, not statutory text. First Schedule, the Factories Act, 1948 [See section 2(cb)] — "List of Industries involving hazardous processes" (29 entries). Section 2(cb) defines "hazardous process". Verbatim list confirmed against the official Factory Inspectorate (Government of Puducherry, Labour Department) publication of the Factories Act, 1948 (py.gov.in/sites/default/files/labourfactory.pdf) and cross-checked with the bare-act text at AdvocateKhoj (advocatekhoj.com/library/bareacts/factories/schedule1.php). The Schedule may be amended/added to by the State Government under section 2(cb) read with section 41A.

Reference information for occupational-health professionals — not medical advice, and not a substitute for examination by a qualified physician.

Other hazardous processes

All 29 hazardous processes — First Schedule

MedFactory — Occupational Health Centre software for Indian factories