Hazardous process
Petroleum Industries (Oil Refining; Lubricating Oils and Greases)
A hazardous process listed in the First Schedule to the Factories Act 1948 (s.2(cb)).
Typical industries: Crude-oil refineries, lube-oil/grease blending plants.
Principal hazards
- Hydrocarbon vapours and benzene
- Hydrogen sulphide (sour crude)
- Fire and explosion (flammable liquids/gases)
- Heat, high pressure; PAH/mineral-oil mists
- Catalysts/acids and asbestos (legacy)
Health effects
Benzene-induced leukaemia/aplastic anaemia, H2S poisoning, narcosis, burns, skin cancer/dermatitis from mineral oils, chemical pneumonitis.
Key engineering controls
Closed processing with leak detection (LDAR), H2S and flammable-gas detection, flare/vapour-recovery systems; benzene exposure monitoring; hot-work permits and inerting; intrinsically safe equipment; emergency depressurisation.
PPE
- Organic-vapour / H2S respirators and escape SCBA
- Flame-retardant (FR) anti-static coveralls
- Chemical gloves
- Eye/face protection
- Personal H2S and LEL 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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