LEGISLATION
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Abrasive Wheels Regulations 1970 (AWR)
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Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)
HAZARDS
These include wheel bursting or breakage, contact or entanglement with running wheel, physical injury from the component being ground, and from dust inhalation.
PRECAUTIONS AND SAFETY MEASURES
1. Training : Section 9 of the Abrasive Wheel Regulations - no person is allowed to mount any abrasive wheel unless he/she has been trained in accordance with a schedule to the regulations, is competent and has been appointed. A register pro forma can be used
2. Examination : By visual examination and, if practicable, by 'ring' test with a light non-metallic object. Also there is a need for careful handling and secure/suitable storage.
3. Speed of Rotation is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT as the centrifugal force increases as the square of the speed. Recommended peripheral speed must never be exceeded.
4. Grinding Machine : Considerations include suitability of spindles; machine bearings; speed control; work rests (steel, renewable top plate, securely clamped, adjustable); proper mounting of wheels; guarding; wheel enclosure angles specified for various types of machine; electrical considerations (double insulated, abrasion resistant cabling, reduced voltage); planned inspection and maintenance; tidy work environment/even flooring around machine.
5. Operation : Wheel to be trimmed and dressed (to avoid excessive vibration, impaired cutting action) and balanced. Eye protection/shield must be used when using powered-driven cutting off wheel, truing or dressing or dry grinding where there is a risk of injury from thrown particles.
PROVISION AND USE OF WORK EQUIPMENT REGULATIONS 1998
The primary objective is to ensure the provision of safe work equipment and its safe use. Regulation 4 defines who has duties (i.e. employers, persons in control and self employed). Regulations 5 -10 cover selection of suitable equipment, maintenance, information and instructions, training etc. Regulations 11 - 24 address the need for equipment to be able to control selected hazards e.g. contact with dangerous parts disintegration, instability etc.
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