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Hard and soft plastics manufacturing can pose significant risks. Working with plastics involves granulators and presses. These are complex machines which can be extremely hazardous. Heat, force and sharp blades are all hazards involved. Proper training, safety equipment, and processes are essential to keep workers and operators safe and avoid serious injury.

While this guidance has not been updated to reflect current work health and safety legislation (the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and regulations), it may still contain relevant information and practices to keep workers and others healthy and safe.

Please read this guidance in conjunction with all relevant industry standards that apply to you as a PCBU. This guidance will be progressively reviewed and either updated, replaced with other guidance, or revoked.

We have produced guidance on operating the following plastic production machinery.

Injection and blow moulding presses

This fact sheet provides guidance on risks and good practice when loading granules and heating, and melting and moulding collections, as well as undertaking maintenance, cleaning and repairs. It also provides guidance on other non-mechanical hazards and risks, such as dust and noise.

Injection and blow moulding presses

Plastics extrusion presses

This fact sheet provides guidance on risks and good practice when loading and unloading the machinery, operating the extrusion process, threading film, and cooling and cutting, as well as undertaking maintenance, cleaning and repairs. It also provides guidance on non-mechanical hazards, such as hazardous substances and noise.

Plastics extrusion presses

Plastics granulator

This fact sheet provides guidance on risks and good practice when loading and unloading the machinery, breaking down plastics, as well as undertaking maintenance, cleaning and repairs. It also provides guidance on other non-mechanical hazards, such as dust, fires and explosions and noise.

Plastics granulator