Grinding Wheel Machine Safety Policy
‘Grinding wheels,’ or machines that power a wheel constructed of abrasive materials to spin at rapid speeds for grinding, smoothing, cutting, cleaning or shaping a fixed object are commonly found in maintenance and machine shops. Some grinding wheels are fixed in place; others are portable and handheld. All are potentially dangerous. Hazards include:
- Eye injuries caused by sparks, chips, dusts or flying objects from the object being grinded;
- Inhalation of dusts generated during grinding;
- Contact with moving parts of the machine;
- Shattering or rupturing of the wheel causing parts to fly in all directions; and
- Excessive vibration.
Here’s a template for a Policy you can adapt to prevent these hazards and ensure compliance with OHS grinding wheel requirements.