Section 408.16234. Injection molding machinery.

(1) An injection molding machine, except for one with a movable table that is subject to the provisions of subrule (4) of this rule, shall be equipped with a safety gate that is designed and constructed to prevent an employee from reaching into the point of operation, except when the gate is open.

(2)    A safety gate on an injection molding machine that was manufactured after August 28, 1973, shall be interlocked with electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic or pneumatic devices, except as noted in subrule (9) of this rule.

(3)   An injection molding machine that was manufactured on or before August 28, 1973, shall have the safety gate interlocked by any 2 of the following:

(a)   An electrical mold-closing control.

(b)   Hydraulic or pneumatic valves that control mold closing.

(c)   A mechanical device that prevents mold closing.

(4)   An injection molding machine that uses a movable table to hold the lower mold shall be provided with a guard or device that is designed and constructed to deny an operator access to the point of operation during machine cycle.

(5)   An injection molding machine shall be equipped with a fixed or an interlocked removable barrier that is designed and constructed to prevent an employee from reaching into the clamping mechanism.

(6)    When purging an injection molding machine, an employee shall be protected from the purging splatter by a shield that is fixed, portable, or worn on the employee. The same guarding shall be used when servicing a heated runner manifold nozzle.

(7)     An injection molding machine that uses an extruding machine that has an exposed feed screw shall have the screw guarded as prescribed by the provisions of R 408.16233(4).

(8)    An electrically interlocked barrier shall be provided to cover the mold area opposite the operator on an injection molding machine that was manufactured after August 28, 1973. An injection molding machine that was manufactured on or before August 28, 1973, shall be provided with an interlocked or fixed barrier to cover the mold area opposite the operator.

(9)      On injection molding machines that are powered by sources other than hydraulics or pneumatics, at least 1 additional electrical interlock shall also be provided. The interlock shall be independent of, and perform the same function as, the control specified in subrule (3)(a) of this rule.

(10)   Mold changes on horizontal plastic injection molding machines may continue to be conducted using the procedures specified in subrule (11) of this rule through December 31, 2016. Effective January 1, 2017, employers engaged in mold changes on horizontal injection molding machines shall comply with General Industry Safety Standard Part 85 “The Control of Hazardous Energy Sources,” (Lockout/Tagout) (29

C.F.R. § 1910.147), as referenced in R 408.16202.

(11)   An employer shall ensure that routine mold changes on a horizontal injection molding machine are conducted in accordance with either of the following if the machine has an interlocked safety gate that complies with subrule (2) of this rule and an electrically interlocked barrier covering the mold area opposite the operator:

(a)    On a horizontal injection molding machine that has a functional mechanical safety device plus 2 independent interlocks on the operator's gate and an emergency or other stop which shuts off the motor or motors which activate the clamping mechanism, the person changing the mold shall activate the emergency or other stop and lock the operator's gate in the open position. An employer shall ensure that the interlocks are checked and found to be functional and properly adjusted before beginning the mold change.

(b)   On a horizontal injection molding machine which has 2 independent interlocks on the rear barrier that shut off the motor or motors that activate the clamping mechanism, the person changing the mold shall lock the rear barrier in the open position.

An employer shall ensure that the interlocks are checked and found to be functional and properly adjusted before beginning the mold change.

History: 1979 AC; 1992 AACS; 1998-2000 AACS; 2015 AACS.