This document provides training on the safe use of portable handheld grinders. It outlines the relevant legislation, hazards associated with grinders, required personal protective equipment, and safe work practices. Key points covered include only using grinders if trained and deemed competent, ensuring all safety guards are in place and adjusted properly, wearing impact-rated goggles, Kevlar sleeves and other PPE, and stopping work if unsure about safety. Practical assessment is required to verify competence in inspecting grinders and changing discs safely.
2. INTRODUCTION
• Purpose
• To instruct personnel on the use and care of portable hand held
grinders at Dungeness B
• Objectives
• To ensure candidates competence in the inspection, use and care
of portable hand held grinders
• Format
• Slide show
• Practical observation (Optional)
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3. WHY ARE WE
HERE?
• All guards, equipment handles
• and triggers guards
• On power tools
• “Must not be removed or defeated”
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5. Grinders
• Side handle must be fitted.
• Kevlar sleeves must be worn - Stores code A862500
• Deadman’s handle (No lock on option)
• Unplug it before you change discs.
• Put it down - Before repositioning yourself,
wait until the disc has stopped, then place
the grinder in safe position.
• All guards fitted and adjusted .
The Rules
All rotating equipment and tools represent a hazard. Be aware of the risks of entanglement, abrasion, flying objects, noise and vibration and ensure the hazards are appropriately
controlled.
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6. RELEVANT
LEGISLATION
• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
• Management of Health of Safety at Work
Regulations 1999
• Provision and Use of Work Equipment
Regulations1998
• Noise at Work Regulations 1989
• Personal Protective Equipment
Regulations1992
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7. Provision and Use of Work Equipment
(PUWER)
Regulation 9 Training
• Every employer shall ensure that all persons who use work equipment have received adequate training
for the purposes of Health & Safety, including training in the methods which may be adopted when
using the work equipment, any risks which may entail and precautions taken.
Note - This is not trade training persons on this session MUST be deemed as competent by their
employers
• AS ABOVE – for employees who supervise or manage the trade skill MUST confirm their competency as
part of the setting to work process
• Young persons MUST be subject to a special RA before allowed to use a portable grinder
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8. HASAWA
1974
Section 7.
“It shall be the duty of every employee while
at work to take reasonable care for the
health and safety of himself and other
persons who may be affected by his acts or
omissions at work; and to co-operate with
his employer in order to enable statutory
health and safety requirements to be
complied with
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9. TYPES OF WORK EQUIPMENT USING
ABRASIVE WHEELS?
These items are not
included
Why
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10. HAZARDS
• Coming into contact with moving parts of the equipment
(including abrasive materials).
• Wheel/Disc bursting and material being ejected.
• Abrasive and small particles coming into contact with
eyes.
• Noise from equipment.
• Vibration from equipment.
• Kickback where the grinder is thrust away from the work
piece.
• Inhalation of fumes and dusts from materials being
worked on.
• Entanglement with loose items drawing grinder to the
operator
• Electrocution (PAT TESTING )
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11. ACCIDENTS
• Contact Injuries 60%:
• Touching wheel, burns, cuts, gashes, possible
• Amputations, inadvertent, behavioural.
• These can be prevented by training in the correct use.
• Eye Injuries 30%:
• Caused by lack of eye protection –
• Must be impact 1grade Goggles or Full face visor Grade 1B
• These injuries can be prevented by wearing the correct PPE
and deploying the guard/deflector as trained
• Burst Wheels 10%:
• Various Causes, Manufacturing defect ,incorrect use,
behavioural,
• incorrect disc for application of work .
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12. RIGHT TOOL
FOR THE
TASK
• Is use of a portable angle grinder/cutter the right option for
task.
• Has the grinder the following designed safety features?:
• Soft start option (wherever possible)
• Deadman’s handle (incorporating auto disconnect lock on
facility). Deadman’s handle is mandatory (If it comes with a
lock on switch this must never be engaged by the user).
• Left- and right-hand operation as standard.
• Is the size of the unit correct for the task consider weight,
ergonomic design, task position, extent of work, work
periods, rest periods, restricted working space?
• Is the guard in place and set to correct position in good
condition and secure?
• If the answer is no to any of the above, consult Industrial
Safety before proceeding
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13. HOT WORK
Grinding /cutting is classed as hot work and will require a
hot work certificate in accordance with BEG/SPEC/SHE/CSI/042 Hot Work
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14. • Guarding is provided to contain fragments of the wheel that might fly off if it did burst so
preventing injury to the user and others in the workplace
• The guards secondary use is deflection of the debris and sparks away from the operator
• Operators suitably trained in the correct handling and mounting of abrasive wheels (This is
for portable grinders only)
• Correct mounting will reduce the risk of bursting.
Control Measures
Guard Fitted
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15. PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT
• Mandatory PPE requirement
• Kevlar Sleeves
• Wide vision goggles, Offer eye protection and also prevent dust and
debris entering users eyes or/and Full face visor as an alternative offers
full face protection but is not sealed against dust and debris
• impact rated to BS grade 1 or EN grade B
• Consideration should be given full face fitted respiratory units or
indirect vented goggles to prevent dust ingress
• Heavy duty gloves (Riggers leather) as a compromise is required that
allows user to hold and maneuver the grinder during use
• Rated for mechanical protection
• EN 388
• Abrasion rated 3 or greater
• Cut rated 4 or greater
• Tear 2 or greater
• Puncture 1 or greater
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16. PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT
• A Kevlar fibre knitted sleeve with or without the cowhide split
leather reinforcement on each arm
• Hearing defenders due to high noise levels
• Fire retardent workwear close fitting, no loose cords that may
become entangled and draw the angle grinder/cutter into the user
• Long hair/jewellery - tied back/made secure
• Task risk assessment may require further protection:-
• Hood to protect against particles been ejected or bounced back in
restricted spaces
• Respirator when the material or coatings may be harmful to the
operator
• Leather apron/jacket may offer protect to lower body and chest area
(although may not be practical)
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17. Grinders
and use on
Non ferrous
items
• Abrasive (grinding wheel) composition may be
compromised by the heat generated by a "clogged"
wheel. The heat is usually carried away from the wheel in
the metal it removes, but a clogged wheel becomes a
heat generator and the metal adhered to the wheel seals
the heat in, therefore you could see a
wheel explosion when the material is in contact with the
wheel.
• Examples of material that will clog discs
• Copper
• Brass
• Aluminium
• Paint coatings
• Always select the right disc for the material to be worked
on if in doubt refer to manufacturer
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18. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
Heavy duty rigger gloves are suitable the
gloves must be flexible so as not to
compromise the feel of the user
Heavy duty gloves
Kevlar & Leather
Sleeves Worn when
Using grinders may
be worn over or
under overall sleeves
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19. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
The disposable dust mask will only give non
hazardous dust protection
(Use a Non disposable with correct filter
attached for hazardous material)
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21. • All moving parts of work equipment must be suitably guarded.
• If adjustable guards are fitted they must always be adjusted prior to use and never removed.
• Check guard for cracks wear or other damage.
• Clean inside of guard before installing new wheel.
• Confirm the guard has been adjusted and locked.
GUARDS
Automatic Blade Guard
- Portable Cut-Off Saw
Not covered under
the requirements
Guard Fitted
No Guard can be fitted to this type of
tool therefore totally reliant on safe
method of operation and PPE worn.
Not covered under these requirements
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22. Task: Cut reinforcing bars from box-out in
concrete wall.
Work Equipment: 4” Angle grinder fitted with steel
cutting disc.
Personnel: Experienced General Labourer trained in
abrasive wheels.
The operative requested a new pair of gloves from the
stores but the expected delivery hadn’t arrived yet.
The operative went to stores to collect an angle
grinder, the only one available had its guard removed
he took it anyway.
Unknown persons previously using the tool removed
an angle grinder guard.
Instead of continuing to use the gloves he already
has the operative doesn’t wear gloves whilst
carrying out the task.
Accident happens, and operative received injuries which
resulted in him losing sections of his fingers and
becoming disabled for the remainder of his life.
GUARDS – CONSEQUENCES OF NOT USING!!!!
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23. REMEMBER USER INSPECTIONS
Portable Hand Held Grinders
• Inspect grinder housing to ensure no cracking/breakage
• Ensure that the cable is free from cracking/burning/broken sheath and that the plug is in
good condition
• Must be 110 volts & Pat Tested
• Discs inspected and in good condition (correct disc speed for grinder
•Second Handle fitted
•No exposed wires or lacerations on the cable
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24. Practical Test
• The operators training history MUST be confirmed as having covered
the use
• of portable angle grinders/cutters
• This session is an assessment not a training course.
• Competent assessor (List of requirement below)
• A selection of discs size/cutting/grinding /material specific/
• All specified mandatory PPE
• Grinder (Approved version)
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25. Practical Test
• Under observation
• If a group session ask each person to do separate checks and others to
comment
• Request operator to complete grinder inspection for obvious defects
• Once inspections are completed ask operator to don required PPE
• Request operator to adjust the guard on the grinder (Not plugged in)
• Request operator to change the disc on the grinder
• Request operator to place grinder down as per the design (On its
back disc upwards)
• Discuss as group or an individual the session and any learning from it
• Ask for any further points missed from the session that would
improve it
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26. SUMMARY
• Abrasive wheels use is covered by the Provision and
Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
• You must be trained and deemed competent.
• This training is not abrasive wheel training.
• You must wear the correct PPE
• Do not defeat safety devices (guards, side handle
etc)
• If you are unsure, STOP and ask.
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