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*                         INFORMATION ALERT                         *
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*  Produced by:  Ontario Ministry of Labour                         *
*  Provided by:  Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety *
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INFO ALERT:  32

DATE:  April 14, 1993


*** HAZARD SUMMARY: FATALITY - INJECTION MOULDING MACHINE ***  

A worker was fatally injured when his head and shoulders were caught
in the mould area of an injection moulding machine.  The victim was
securing cardboard slides into the mould area without first locking
out the equipment.

The victim opened the operator gate while the machine was in the
automatic mode, leaned downward inside the machine, and inadvertently
activated the front limit switch with his body.  The rear electric
limit switch and the hydraulic safety device were not engaged due to
modifications that had been made to the left bottom corner of the gate
and the hydraulic safety device.


*** LOCATION(S) AND SECTOR(S): ***

Plastics manufacturing.


*** SUGGESTED PRECAUTIONS: ***

This fatality could have been prevented if the equipment had been
properly locked out prior to the worker's set-up activity in the mould
area.

Other precautions recommended by the Ministry of Labour:

1.   Carefully inspect the condition of the metal on the lower left
     corner of the operator gate.  Any damage or modifications to that
     corner may cause the gate to derail, creating an unsafe
     condition.

2.   Determine daily before operating the equipment that the safety
     devices engage and remain in the de-energized position when the
     operator gate is opened.

3.   Check for any modifications or repositioning of electric position
     switches or of hydraulic or mechanical safety devices (e.g.,
     spring tying of hydraulic devices) which could be activated
     inadvertently.


*** APPLICABLE SECTIONS OF THE ACT AND REGULATIONS: ***

Section 75 of the Regulations for Industrial Establishments states:

     "A part of a machine, transmission machinery, device or thing
     shall be cleaned, oiled, adjusted, repaired or have maintenance
     work performed on it only when,

     (a)  motion that may endanger a worker has been stopped; and

     (b)  any part that has been stopped and may subsequently move and
          endanger a worker has been blocked to prevent it movement."

Section 76 of the Regulations states:

     "Where the starting of a machine, transmission machinery, device
     or thing may endanger the safety of a worker,

     (a)  control switches or other control mechanisms shall be locked
          out; and

     (b)  other effective precautions necessary to prevent such
          starting up shall be taken."


NOTE:     "Information Alert" is produced by the Occupational Health
          and Safety Branch, Ministry of Labour for use by Ministry
          inspectors, health and safety associations and other
          interested groups or individuals in Ontario.  The goal of
          this publication is to communicate hazard information as
          soon as it becomes available to prevent injury to workers. 
          Reproduction and use of these alerts is encouraged.


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