All plastics (polymers) degrade at sufficiently high temperatures, producing fumes with various hazards. Those materials presenting hazards at lower temperatures are discussed here.

Controlling the dust and fumes from shaping and cutting plastic materials by hand and by machine.

Shaping and cutting plastic materials by machine (bandsaw, drilling, metal centre lathe and moulding trimmer).

Plastic materials are heated to such a temperature that they will flow and are then forced under pressure into a metal mould or through a die.