OSHA Inspection: NORDON TOOL & MOLD INC.

Issued

Apr 16, 2002

Abate by

May 20, 2002

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

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