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.