BUSINESS INSIGHTS

Machinery Safety Standards

The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) is an American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-accredited standards developer, working to ensure plastics machinery is safely built to standard to protect our industry’s most valuable resource: our people. To contribute your expertise as a member of a PLASTICS technical committee improving both safety and productivity, email Jeff Linder, Director of Industry Standards. Make your voice heard.

To purchase copies of machinery safety standards, visit the PLASTICS store.

The plastics industry depends on high-tech machinery to manufacture the products and materials that make modern living possible. Whether big enough to fill an average-sized home or small enough to sit on an office desk, this machinery should be built to standards designed, first and foremost, to ensure the safety of the machine operator and maintenance personnel.

The ANSI-accredited operating procedures meet the requirements for due process and development of consensus required by ANSI. Through its Standards Program, PLASTICS is able to provide professionals throughout the industry a venue to work with industry experts to ensure the standardization of plastics machinery to protect workers and achieve efficiency in productivity.

Standards Steering Committee Chair – Dale Bartholomew, Japan Steel Works America, Inc.


U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for ISO/TC 270 Chair – Stan Glover, Zeiger Industries


Active Projects


  1. B151.1-2017, Safety requirements for Injection Molding Machines is being reviewed to align with ISO 20430.
  2. B151.7-2014, Safety requirements for extrusion machines will serve as the base document for the ISO project related to extrusion.
  3. B151.2-Film Casting Machines – Construction, Care, and Use. This working group will review and revise the document to divide into multiple standards.
If you are interested in participating in an active project, contact Jeff Linder.

Join Us


The PLASTICS Standards Program is open to participation by any interested party. Membership in PLASTICS technical committees is complimentary and most work is conducted via email and web conference. If you are interested in participating, please complete the membership application and return it to Jeff Linder.


Safety Violation Resources


It was brought to our attention by the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) Equipment Council membership that a uniform letter used within the industry to point out safety violations would be helpful when going in to do field service work. This would send a unified message to the market place that it is the responsibility of the industry as a whole (including plastic processors) to maintain a safe environment where a piece of equipment can be properly serviced when down or in need of periodic maintenance.

So, PLASTICS is supplying you with a single, vetted document for you to use when necessary. Note it is not PLASTICS’ intent to take legal responsibility for such an action. Below is a link to a copy of the violation letter and sample of a typical violation write up. This can also be found on the Machinery Safety Standards Committee webpage.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact Jeff Linder. This is just one more way PLASTICS is trying to support our members’ needs in every way possible.


Have Questions?

If you have questions about the Standards program or specific standards, please contact Jeff Linder.

If you need interpretation of any ANSI/PLASTICS standards, please complete the PLASTICS Request for Interpretation Form.


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Equipment Manufacturers & Moldmakers

Moldmakers and plastics machinery and equipment manufacturers engage in the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) through the Equipment Council (EC), one of three industry segment councils that represent the plastics supply chain, end to end.

Learn More