Injection molding machines adequancy to regulatory standards nr 17 and nr 35

Safety risks with plastic injection machines represent a serious problem in the plastic production chain. Even with the implementation of ABNT NBR 13536/95 to establish the minimum safety requirements for injection molding machines and its subsequent inclusion in the regulatory standard NR 12, there are risks related to work at heights and ergonomics that are not properly specified, especially during maintenance activities of the resin hopper loader or resin color change-over. To mitigate such risks, the present work proposes to develop two concepts for safety adaptation of injection machines to NR 17 and NR 35, based on their size and clamping force, being the first a prototype of an access ladder and metallic support of the resin hopper loader, and the second prototype being a safety platform prototype at the top of the injection machine, so that the operator could have 360º access to the resin hopper loader. After the design, construction and implementation of the two prototypes, it was observed the compliance with the NR 17 and NR 35, as well as improvements in productivity, safety, ergonomics and morale of the operators in the production process. The present work also exposes the costs and characteristics of the materials used.