Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing

NarrativeAt 3:30 p.m. on November 15, 2017, an employee was clearing a plug from the expander chute that is just before the extruder auger and die plate for the rubber manufacturing process. The employee noticed some smoldering and rubber catching on fire as it would come out from die plate inside the hot box and come onto the cooling conveyor. The employee sprayed under the front opening of the hot box and a flash fire occurred with flames leaping out 5 feet from the hot box. The employee suffered second and third degree burns to both hands, right arm, and face. The employee was hospitalized.

NarrativeAt 6:30 a.m. on August 11, 2017, an employee was placing a roll of blue plastic on the calendar machine. The employee's fingers was caught between two calendar rolls and it pulled the employee's right hand in. Part of the employee's right arm skin was de-gloved and the employee was hospitalized.

NarrativeAt 9:30 a.m. on June 14, 2017, an employee (supervisor/production manager) was receiving a load of batch rubber from the upper mixing area onto the the drop down mill. The rubber rotates around the mill. The employee was cutting the rubber as it falls into the pan. As the mill was rotating, the piece of rubber wrapped around the employee's hand. The employee immediately pulled his hand out of the glove (proper hand protection) which was stuck on to the rubber. The employee's forearm touched the hot rubber and was burned. The employee sustained 2nd and 3rd degree burns to the forearm.The employee made contact with the hot rubber. The temperature of the rubber was 330 degrees Fahrenheit.