If there are no specific standards to address a workplace hazard, then OSHA refers to the General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act), which requires employers to "furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees". Section 5(a)(2) requires employers to "comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated under this Act".

Note: Twenty-four states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans and have adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards applicable to this industry or may have different enforcement policies. State standards that differ from Federal standards are listed in the State section below.

• 1910.147, The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout) [related topic page]
• 1910.212, General requirements for all machines [related topic page]
• 1910.305, Wiring methods, components, and equipment for general use
• 1910.178, Powered industrial trucks [related topic page]
• 1910.1200, Hazard communication [related topic page]
• 1910.303, General requirements (Electrical) [related topic page]
• 1910.219, Mechanical power-transmission apparatus
• 1910.134, Respiratory protection [related topic page]
• 1910.215, Abrasive wheel machinery
• 1910.23, Guarding floor and wall openings and holes [related topic page]

• National Emphasis Program on Amputations. CPL 03-00-003, (2006, October 27). Describes policies and procedures for implementing a National Emphasis Program (NEP) to identify and reduce the workplace machinery and equipment hazards which are causing or are likely to cause amputations. This directive applies to general industry workplaces where saws, shears, slicers, press brakes, and power presses of all types are present.
• Inspection Procedures for the Hazard Communication Standard. CPL 02-02-038 [CPL 2-2.38D], (1998, March 20). Provides clarifications and guidance to comply with this performance-oriented standard. The appendices include sample hazard communication programs, hazard evaluation procedures, and clarifications and interpretations of the standards.
• Search all available directives.

Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However, they do provide guidance from their originating organizations related to worker protection.

• Part 62, Plastic Molding. Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth (DL&EG), General Industry Safety Standards, (2000, January 24), 31 KB PDF, 7 pages.

Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However, they do provide guidance from their originating organizations related to worker protection.

• Granulators, Strand Pelletizers and Dicers
  • B151.11-1996, Granulators, strand pelletizers and dicers used for size reduction of plastics safety requirements for manufacture, care, and use. A standard treating the construction, care, and use of granulators, strand pelletizers, and dicers used for the size reduction of plastics is complicated by the wide variety and sizes of equipment manufactured and in use and by the virtually infinite combinations of being produced, production methods being used and operating conditions existing in the industry today.
• Injection
  • B151.21-2003, Injection blowmolding machinery - safety requirements for manufacture, care and use. Applies to all IBMMs (including Injection Stretch Blow) that process plastic materials and produce and/or deliver a preform which is then blown into the shape of a mold held together by a vertically or horizontally acting clamp(s).
  • B151.27-2003, Safety requirements for the integration, care and use of robots used with horizontal & vertical injection molding machines. Addresses the integration, care, and use of robots used with horizontal and vertical clamp injection molding machines is complicated by the variety and sizes of machines and robots manufactured and in use and by virtually infinite combinations of parts being produced, production methods used, and operating conditions existing in industry today
  • B151.29-2002, Safety requirements for the manufacture, care and use of vertical clamp injection molding machines. Identifies and addresses known hazards to personnel working on or with the specified machinery.
  • B151.1-1997, Plastics machinery - horizontal injection molding machines - safety requirements for manufacture, care and use. Applies to horizontal injection molding machines that are used in the rubber and plastics industries. Safety requirements of ancillary equipment used with horizontal injection molding machines are not covered by this standard.
    • HIMM: Summary of Interpretations of ANSI B151.1-1997. Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI), Machinery Division, (2001, October 1).
• Extrusion
  • B151.15-2003, Extrusion blowmolding machines - safety requirements for the manufacture care and use. Minimizes hazards to personnel associated with machine activity by establishing requirements for the manufacture, care, and use of these machines.
  • B151.5-2000, Plastic film and sheet winding machinery - manufacture, care, and use. Identifies and addresses known hazards to personnel working on or adjacent to the machinery.
  • B151.2-1999, Film casting machines - construction, care, and use (revision and redesignation of ANSI B151.2-1982 (R1988)). Identifies and addresses known hazards to personnel working on or adjacent to the machinery.
  • B151.4-1999, Blown film take-off and auxiliary equipment - construction, care, and use (revision and redesignation of ANSI B151.4-1982 (R1988)). Identifies and addresses known hazards to personnel working on or adjacent to the machinery.
  • B151.20-1999, American national standard for plastic sheet production machinery - manufacture, care and use. Identifies and addresses known hazards to personnel working on or with the machinery.
  • B151.7-1996, Plastics machinery - plastics extrusion machines - requirements for the manufacture, care and use (revision and redesignation of ANSI B151.7-1982 (R1998)). Applies to extrusion machines that are used in the rubber and plastics industries. Safety requirements of ancillary equipment used with extrusion machines are not covered by this standard.
• Lockout/Tagout
  • Z244.1-2003, Control of hazardous energy - lockout/tagout and alternative methods. Cited in OSHA interpretations and private sector materials, the Z244.1 Standard is used as a resource for addressing control of hazardous energy and lockout/tagout. The scope and purpose of the standard is to establish requirements for the control of hazardous energy associated with machines, equipment, or processes that could cause injury to personnel.
    • Z244 Subcommittee Information. American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE).