Abrasive Wheels

Hazard Overview

What is an abrasive wheel?

A cutting tool consisting of abrasive grains held together by organic or inorganic bonds. Diamond and reinforced wheels are included. Abrasive wheels are commonly found in bench grinders.

What are the hazards associated with abrasive wheels?

Damaged or improperly maintained abrasive wheels can shatter when run at high or excessive speeds resulting in serious injury or death to workers. In addition, improperly guarded or unguarded abrasive wheels can cause serious injury to employee hands and fingers.

Solutions

What can I do to protect myself?

Conduct a ring test before mounting and beginning to use an abrasive wheel to determine if it has been damaged and is, therefore, unsafe to use. Make sure that work and tongue guards are properly adjusted and wheel guards are in place. Be sure to wear appropriate personal protective equipment, especially eye and face protection and sturdy gloves, when using abrasive wheel equipment.

What resources are available to assist employers?

This job hazard assessment program can be downloaded and customized to fit an individual workplace. Employers are required to perform a workplace hazard analysis to determine what personal protective equipment is necessary to protect employees from continued exposure to identified hazards.

The machinery and machine guarding presentation can be downloaded and modified to address site-specific conditions and hazards.

The A-Z topics page on machinery and machine guarding can provide additional resource information. In addition, the NCDOL Library offers free safety and health videos and related research assistance on consensus standards (i.e., ANSI, NFPA, NEC). The education, training and technical assistance bureau provides free online safety and health training and outreach services (i.e., speaker's bureau requests, safety booths) upon request.

Regulations

Which standards apply?

OSH has adopted the following standards for abrasive wheels in North Carolina:

General Industry

29 CFR 1910.94 - ventilation
29 CFR 1910.133 - eye and face protection
29 CFR 1910.138 - hand protection
29 CFR 1910.212 - machine guarding, general requirements
29 CFR 1910.215 - abrasive wheel machinery
29 CFR 1910.304 - wiring design and protection
29 CFR 1910.305 - wiring methods, components and equipment for general use
29 CFR 1910.1200 - hazard communication

Maritime Industry

29 CFR 1915.134 - abrasive wheels
29 CFR 1915.153 - eye and face protection
29 CFR 1915.157 - hand and body protection

Construction Industry

29 CFR 1926.57 - ventilation, paragraph (f)
29 CFR 1926.102 - eye and face protection
29 CFR 1926.303 - abrasive wheels and tools

Learn More

Where can I learn more?

Industry Guide 003, A Guide to Machine Safeguarding, provides guidance on different ways to safeguard machinery, including abrasive wheel guards.
Industry Guide 048, OSHA Construction Standards Requiring Programs, Inspections, Procedures, Records and/or Training, and Industry Guide 049, OSHA General Industry Standards Requiring Programs, Inspections, Procedures, Records and/or Training, highlight the requirements of standards regarding employee use of abrasive wheel machinery.

If you would like to receive interpretive guidance on this or any other OSH standard or topic, you can submit your questions using the Ask OSH web form, by e-mail to ask.osh@labor.nc.gov or by calling 919-707-7876.