Health issues in the plastics industry

Within plastics industries there are a number of health issues that can affect employees. It is important to properly assess the risks of these and put things in place to protect workers from health risks.

  • Chemicals [25]- In plastic manufacturing and recycling companies a number of chemicals are both used and produced as a by product of work processes. Some of these chemicals can damage people's health if they are exposed to them. Find out here what steps you need to take to protect workers.
  • Manual handling[26] - In plastics companies manual handling is one of the biggest causes if injury. It is not only the weight of the materials being handled but also the size and nature of the products that can cause problems. This section describes what you need to do to prevent your employees being injured as a result of manual handling activities.
  • Noise[27] - Most workplaces where machinery is used have potential noise issues. The effects of people being exposed to high levels of noise in the workplace aren't seen immediately. It is usually some years later when employees develop health issues related to noise exposure. This section will help you to find out if noise in the workplace is an issue for you, and if it is what you need to do about it.

Link URLs in this page

  1. Plasticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/plastics/index.htm
  2. Managing plastics safelyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/plastics/basics.htm
  3. How we workhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/plastics/how.htm
  4. Frequently asked questionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/plastics/faqs.htm
  5. Overview - SIMPLhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/plastics/simpl.htm
  6. Companies who have signed the SIMPL pledgehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/plastics/pledge.htm
  7. SIMPL focus on...https://www.hse.gov.uk/plastics/simpl-focus-on.htm
  8. Overview - Health topicshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/plastics/health.htm
  9. Chemicalshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/plastics/chemicals.htm
  10. Manual handlinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/plastics/manual-handling.htm
  11. Noisehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/plastics/noise.htm
  12. Overview - Safety topicshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/plastics/safety.htm
  13. Machine safetyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/plastics/machine-safety.htm
  14. Slips and tripshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/plastics/slips-trips.htm
  15. Work at heighthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/plastics/work-at-height.htm
  16. Overview - Fire safetyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/plastics/fire-safety.htm
  17. Storing cellular plasticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/plastics/storing-celluar-plastics.htm
  18. Cellular plastics processeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/plastics/celluar-plastics-processes.htm
  19. Flexible polyurethane (PU) foamhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/plastics/flexible-polyurethane-foam.htm
  20. Overview - Resourceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/plastics/resources.htm
  21. Publicationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/plastics/publications.htm
  22. COSHH essentialshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/plastics/coshh.htm
  23. EU standardshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/plastics/eu-standards.htm
  24. Linkshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/plastics/links.htm
  25. Chemicals https://www.hse.gov.uk/plastics/chemicals.htm
  26. Manual handlinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/plastics/manual-handling.htm
  27. Noisehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/plastics/noise.htm
  28. Control of substances hazardous to health (Fifth edition)https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l5.htm
  29. Manual handling. Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (as amended)https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l23.htm
  30. Controlling noise at workhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l108.htm
  31. Slips and trips websitehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/index.htm
  32. Falls from height websitehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/work-at-height/index.htm
  33. Work at heighthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/work-at-height/index.htm
  34. COSHHhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/index.htm
  35. Workplace transporthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/index.htm
  36. Fire and explosionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/fireandexplosion/index.htm
  37. Worker involvementhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/involvement/index.htm
  38. Musculoskeletal disordershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/index.htm

Glossary of abbreviations/acronyms on this page

SIMPL
Safety In Manufacturing Plastics
COSHH
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
COSHH
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health

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Updated 2023-05-02