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?

Safety and Health Programs

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.

Training and Outreach Services

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

In addition, 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.  Further, pre-recorded webinars on machine guarding and occupational noise exposure can also be useful.

Lastly, the NCDOL Library offers free safety and health videos (including streaming video services) and related research assistance on consensus standards (i.e., ANSI, NFPA, NEC).

A-Z Safety and Health Topics

The A-Z topics pages on machinery and machine guarding, amputations, noise and hand and portable powered tools can provide additional resource information. 

Consultation Services

Lastly, the consultative services bureau provides free and confidential onsite consultation regarding worksite safety and health hazards.

Regulations

Which standards apply?

OSH has adopted the following standards which are applicable to abrasive wheels in North Carolina. Note: Please also check the standards information and activity webpage to see if there has been any recent or upcoming regulatory activity on this topic. 

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, Shipyard Employment

• 29 CFR 1915.134 - abrasive wheels

• 29 CFR 1915.153 - eye and face protection

• 29 CFR 1915.157 - hand and body protection

Maritime Industry, Marine Terminals

• 29 CFR 1917.151 - machine guarding

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

Other Applicable Standards

The Which OSHA Standards Apply webpage can also help identify other standards that may be applicable to your worksite.

Learn More

Where can I learn more?

Industry Guides

• Industry Guide 3, A Guide to Machine Safeguarding provides guidance on different ways to safeguard machinery, including abrasive wheel guards.

• Industry Guide 48, OSHA Construction Standards Requiring Programs, Inspections, Procedures, Records and/or Training highlights the requirements of standards regarding employee use of abrasive wheel machinery in construction.

• Industry Guide 49, OSHA General Industry Standards Requiring Programs, Inspections, Procedures, Records and/or Training highlights the requirements of standards regarding employee use of abrasive wheel machinery in general industry.

• Industry Guide 53, OSHA Shipyard Employment Standards Requiring Programs, Inspections, Procedures, Records and/or Training highlights the requirements of standards regarding employee use of abrasive wheel machinery in shipyard employment.

• Industry Guide 54 - OSHA Marine Terminal Standards Requiring Programs, Inspections, Procedures, Records and/or Training highlights the requirements of standards related to abrasive wheel machinery at marine terminals.

Technical Assistance

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.