Publications relevant to the plastics industry
Free leaflets
- Fire and explosion risks from pentane in expandable polystyrene (EPS) PPIS1(rev1) 2015
Revised guidance (first published in 1998) to align with Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 - Safety at injection moulding machines PPIS4(rev1) 2015
Revised guidance (first published in 1999) outlines practical safeguards to reduce the risk of injury at injection moulding machines - Safety at blow moulding machines PPIS5(rev1) 2015
Revised guidance (first published in 1999) outlines practical safeguards to reduce the risk of injury at blow moulding machines - Safety at thermoforming machines PPIS6(rev1) 2015
Revised guidance (first published in 1999) outlines practical safeguards to reduce the risk of injury at thermoforming machines - Safety at extruder lines PPIS7(rev1) 2015
Revised guidance (first published in 1999) outlines practical safeguards to reduce the risk of injury at extruders - Safety at window frame manufacturing machines PPIS8(rev1) 2015
Revised guidance (first published in 1999) outlines practicable safeguards for both new and second-hand window manufacturing machinery - Safety at compression moulding machines PPIS9(rev1) 2015
Revised guidance (first published in 1999) outlines practical safeguards to reduce the risk of injury at compression moulding machines - Safety at granulators PPIS10(rev1) 2015
Revised guidance (first published in 1998) to align with Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Revised guidance (first published in 1999) outlines practical safeguards to reduce the risk of injury at granulators 2002 - Safety requirements for plastic sheet and film winders PPIS11(rev1) 2015
Guidance significantly revised since first published in 2000 following incident investigations where people were injured during intervention on plastics and film processing finishing machinery - How to reduce your hand knife injuries PPIS12(rev1) 2015
Updated guidance (first published in 2000) gives practical advice on reducing the risks of hand knife injuries in the plastics industry, which remain significant - Controlling fume during plastics processing PPIS13(rev1) 2013
Updated guidance (first published in 2002) on how to prevent or control any respiratory and toxic hazards from fume produced by plastics processing - Styrene control in fibre-reinforced plastics contact moulding PPIS14(rev1) 2015
Updated guidance (first published in 2003) to summarise possible health hazards arising from exposure to styrene and how to assess and control styrene levels in the workplace - Reducing the risk of fire or explosion during the manufacture of fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) products PPIS15(rev1) 2015
Updated guidance (first published in 2003) to enable employers to assess and control risks from using dangerous substances that could cause fires or explosions
Other HSE publications
Safe Use and Storage of Cellular Plastics HSG92 1996
Other Guidance
Noise - Plastics products case studies
COSHH essentials
COSHH Essentials (microsite) provides advice on controlling chemicals in the workplace. COSHH Essentials includes a series of guidance sheets to help you determine what you need to do in a practical way. Below are links to a selection of the guidance sheets that may be of use in the plastics industry:
- Control guidance sheet S100 - General advice; Chemicals causing harm via skin or eye contact
- Sheet S101 - Selecting protective gloves; supplementary advice
- Sheet S102 - Selecting personal protective equipment
- Sheet S200 - Skin or Eye Contact
EU Standards
There are a number of European safety standards that apply to machinery used for manufacturing plastics. Below is a list of the standards
- BS EN 201 - Injection Moulding Machines
- BS EN 289 - Compression and Transfer Moulding Presses
- BS EN 1114-1 - Extruders
- BS EN 1114-2 - Die-faced Pelletisers
- BS EN 1114-3 - Haul-off Devices
- BS EN 1417 - Two Roll Mills
- BS EN 422 - Blow Moulding Machines
- BS EN12012-1 - Blade Granulators
- BS EN12012-2 - Strand Pelletisers
- BS EN12012-3 - Shredders
- BS EN12012-3 - Agglomerators
- BS EN 12013 - Internal Mixers
- BS EN 12301 - Calenders
To find the most up to date versions of these standards or to purchase then check the British Standards on Line web site provided through the British Standards Institution.