Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: UNAPEQUIP

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to hot molten, liquified, plastic: (a)On or about 2/11/02 in the Injection Molding area; an employee was seriously injured while performing change over/set up of a horizontal injection molding machine, specifically: Boy Injection Molding Machine, Model 15S, serial #14309, company #20. The employee received burns to his face from hot molten liquified plastic which, when overheated, built up gas in the barrel and blew back the liquified plastic through the hopper throat. There are six Boy horizontal injection molding machines in this area. Feasible and acceptable methods, among others, to correct this condition are to: 1) purge the machine of all residual melted plastic material and do not permit its re- introduction until production time; 2) purge the heat energy prior to change over/set up procedures; 3) create and enforce standard procedures that includes the lowering the temperature settings after a job run and prior to change over/set up; 4) create a STOP in the standard operating procedure to include assistance from a supervisor or maintenance staff. 5) ensure the continuing competence of employees performing this function by inspection and/or training at least once every 6 months. Reference ANSI B151-1 and 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(5) ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED