When manufacturing plastics, workers often transfer potentially hazardous liquid additives such as plasticisers, colourants, dyes, lubricants, antimicrobials and flame retardants into smaller containers or vessels, or directly into tanks or machinery. At times, liquid solvents and cleaners used for maintenance may be transferred as well.
Chemicals such as acetone are also used in plastics machining and for 3D printed parts for vapour polishing, which, when applied to the surface of plastic, alters the finish to a high gloss. However, this transfer of chemicals at the point of use, whether it’s done in plastics manufacturing, fabricating or machining, can have serious consequences when manual tip-and-pour techniques or poorly designed pumps are used.
These chemicals are toxic, corrosive, reactive, flammable, emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and are even potentially explosive; the danger of accidental contact, even for short periods, can pose a severe hazard to workers. In addition to the potential for injury, there can also be serious financial ramifications for the facility involved.
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