Abstract: At approximately 10:00 a.m. on November 3, 1999, Employees #1 and #2 were disassembling a plastic extruder machine in order to replace a defective seal, which was leaking melted polyethylene material. Employees #1 and #2 removed the clamp that joined the adapter with the screen changer. As they pulled the adapter and the screen changer apart, a plastic strand was formed and solidified. Employee #2 grabbed a metal scraper and broke the strand in the middle. A few seconds after Employee #2 broke the plastic strand, both employees heard an explosion in one of the open ends. Both employees were splattered with hot polyethylene material in the face and arms and sustained second degree burns. Both employees were hospitalized for their injuries.