Hazard Communication in Polymer Compounding

There are many books on hazards communications for the general chemical and processing industries, but none that address the specific dangers and hazards peculiar to the plastics processing industries. This will be the first such book and a welcome addition to the professional literature for plastics engineers and technicians. The three most important factors in a plastics processing facility are, in order of priority, Safety, Quality and Productivity. In this first volume in a series of books on the safety, quality, and productivity of polymer and plastics operations, the importance of proper and effective hazards communications is presented. It covers how to correctly communicate the safety hazards that technician operators and engineers may be exposed to during the processing of polymers in plastics production. The reader will find key tools to prevent hazards from becoming injuries or accidents - specifically the MSDS and Lock-out/Tag-out procedures--as well as a detailed discussion of the hazards presented by reactive extrusion. Ample references and a bibliography will help with further research and expanded background information on specific topics. Of particular importance, the book provides * Coverage of major compounding processes, including Internal Mixers (Banbury), Farrel Continuous Mixers, single screw extrusion, twin screw extrusion * Warnings for physical hazards, including rotating equipment, pinch points, pressure discharge, sharps, and static electricity * Guidance for determining static electricity hazards * Reference sources for federal safety standards and policies