When assessing the risks and precautions needed, consideration should be given to:

• the closing speed;
• the number of moulds and amount of daylight;
• whether up-stroking or down-stroking;
• type of moulds (loose or fixed);
• mode of operation, in particular, if worked at one or both sides and the number of operators;
• the amount of body access between the moulds.

Many incidents happen during maintenance and tool changing and adequate controls against preventing falls due to gravity are important for down-stroking presses. These could include scotching or having a pilot operated check valve and counterbalance valve assembly in the hydraulic circuit. For further information on guarding requirements see:

• BS EN 289 Plastics and rubber machines — Presses — Safety requirements
• BS EN 201 Plastics and rubber machines - Injection Moulding Machines