Plastic Industries Inc.: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Jun 17, 2019: Employee suffers finger amputation while cleaning machine

At 5:50 a.m. on June 17, 2019, an employee was cleaning a UNILOY, Dual-Belted Spinoff Trimmer, Blow Molding Machine when he noticed a plastic bottle was jammed in the machine. The power switch was turned off but the machine had not completely stopped when the employee tried to pull the jammed bottle out. The employee's right index finger got caught in the moving parts of sprocket and chain inside the machine causing amputation of his finger. The employee was treated without hospitalization.

Incident on May 6, 2017: Employee's hand is crushed in molding machine and amputates

At 11:32 p.m. on May 6, 2017, an employee was working at a facility specializing in the manufacturing of plastic bottles where blow molding machines were used in the process. The employee was working to clear a jammed bottle from one of the Uniloy Milacron blow molding machines (model number: 400R20; serial number: 5239). As the employee was underneath the blow mold machine to un-jam the stuck bottle from the molds, a coworker was working from above the machine to remove bottles, using a plastic stick. After removing one bottle from the mold, he worked to free a second bottle, when the coworker closed the molds from the control. The employee's right hand got caught between the molds and remained pinned by the molds until after completing its cycle. Emergency services were contacted and, upon arrival, the employee was transported to a nearby medical facility, where he was hospitalized and received treatment for his injury. The extent of his injuries consisted of the amputation of his right middle finger and thumb.

Incident on Jan 7, 2008: Employee's hand is injured by trimming machine

On January 7, 2008, Employee #1, a direct hire of an employer that manufactured plastic bottles for food and other products, was working as the second-shift sup ervisor. Employee #1 was setting up a Uniloy Milacron Impact Trimmer (Model Numb er 10041; Serial Number 5173T) for a new run of plastic bottles. Employee #1 rem oved a bin that had been mounted in a guarded opening during the previous run. T he next step in the Employer's setup procedure was to reactivate the interlock d oor guard for the opening. However, Employee #1 forgot to reenable the door's in terlock guard. When he reached through the opening to adjust the trimmer, his ha nd was in the point of operation, and the trimmer cycled. The trimmer broke two of Employee #1's fingers and lacerated the palm of his hand. Employee #1's cowor kers took him to receive emergency treatment for his injuries. He was hospitaliz ed and underwent surgery on his hand.

Incident on Sep 7, 2007: Employee amputates finger in trimmer

On September 7, 2007, an employee, a laborer, was monitoring the product line fo r rejects and placing them in a chute for grinding and recycling. She was monito ring product exiting Machine #1, a Uniloy Milacron Impact Trimmer, Model Number 10041, Serial Number 5173T, when she saw that a bottle on the conveyor belt feed ing the trimmer was crooked, which she knew could cause the trimmer to jam. She reached in through the front of the trimmer, where the plexiglass guard opening is approximately 10i-in. high by 20-in. wide, to straighten the bottle. The trim mer came down on her right hand, crushing the hand and fingers, lacerating the h and and amputating the tip of the right index finger. The employee was hospitali zed and treated for her injuries.