Employee awareness of potential hazards in the plastic injection industry in Malta

Abstract

The focus of this paper is on the employee's awareness of potential hazards in the Plastic Injection industry in Malta. The evolution of Plastics, the Injection Moulding Process and the basic components of plastics is discussed in detail. Plastics have become part of our life and are used regularly. The hazard that exists in the Plastic injection environment is addressed and some basic precautions are mentioned. Material Safety Data Sheets why we have them and how we can make use of the information to our advantage. How we monitor the quality of air in the Plastic Injection Department. The effect of plastics on the human being is not restricted only to the manufacturing stage. Plastic Waste disposal, how is· it being controlled? Since we became members of the European Union we fall under the various conventions and directives related to plastics, e.g. the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemical substances (REACH), the Basel Convention (transportation of hazardous waste across borders). The Methodology used was that of a Questionnaire distributed amongst workers in various plastic injection moulding departments. The results were collated and analysed. Finally conclusions and recommendations were addressed.