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

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: The following crushing hazards: a) On or about February 21,1997 employees were exposed to the crushing hazards of a moving clamp mold when reaching into or between the mold of a Cincinnati Milacron 500 ton capacity horizontal plastic injection molding machine, #17, in that the safety bar used to keep the mold from accidentally closing was not properly adjusted. b) On or about February 26,1997 employees were exposed to the crushing hazards of a moving clamp mold when reaching into a Cincinnati Milacron 375 ton capacity horizontal plastic injection molding machine, #8, in that the safety bar used to keep the mold from accidentally closing was not adjusted. c) On or about February 26, 1997 employees were exposed to the crushing hazards of a moving clamp mold when reaching into a Cincinnati Milacron 375 ton capacity horizontal plastic injection molding machine, #10, in that the safety bar used to keep the mold from accidentally closing was not adjusted. Among other methods feasible and acceptable methods to correct this hazard is to: Follow the procedures specified in the operators manual which require: "the gap between the bar and drop flag not to exceed 1/2 inch" and "the operator will be conditioned not to reach into the mold until the stop is in place. Failure to heed these warning may result in injury to your personnel and or damage to your machine." In addition, the requirement of the American Standard Safety Requirements for the Construction, Care, and Use of Horizontal Injection Molding Machines, ANSI B151,1- 1976 requires that: 114.2.4 Mechanical Safety Device- "At least one mechanical safety device, actuated by the safety gate, shall be provided that, when the safety gate is opened and the clamp is in its adjusted open position, will physically prevent the closing of the clamp."