Grinding wheels are very powerful. You can use them to work on materials and make shapes at incredibly high speeds and with outstanding precision. They also, though, carry a lot of dangers and can cause a lot of harm if you don’t use them right. You’ve probably heard stories about the kind of cutting power these wheels have and the kinds of nasty things they can do if you misuse them. But let’s try to put some of that in better context.
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Understanding the Risks
- Let’s start by comprehending the probable dangers of grinding wheels before looking at safety equipment and measures. Why? Because you need to appreciate what really could happen when working with grinding wheels.
- What’s the big deal if a grinding wheel might fling a piece of itself at you? The thing is, you’re not just dealing with sharp, fast-moving shards when a grinding wheel fractures—you’re dealing with sharp, fast-moving shards that have a whole lot of potential energy.
Essential Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Protecting the eyes from hazards is imperative, and that is why eye protection is recommended.
- It is always a good idea to protect your eyes, especially when you have to deal with activities that might cause flying debris and sparks. In doing so, you should see to it that you have safety glasses with side shields on.
- Wear a face shield over your goggles if you want some extra protection.
- Protect Your Ears
- Using earmuffs or earplugs can protect your hearing from the excessive noise produced by grinding.
- Protection for breathing
- To stop the inhaling of dust and debris, use a dust mask or respirator. This is particularly important when you’re working with hazardous dust.
Protecting your hands:
- Safety first! Don’t forget to put your gloves on. They will provide your hands with necessary protection. They will keep you safe in case you accidentally cut yourself, and they will prevent any vibrations from reaching your fingers when you are using the power tool. “Okay,” you say, “I get it. But which gloves should I use?” That’s a great question and one we’ll answer for you right here.
- Apparel worn to protect against fire, extreme heat, or exposure to hazardous materials.
- Cover your skin with long-sleeved shirts and pants. Choose hardy materials that can prevent your body from being hit by sparks and debris; clothes made from natural materials are best. You obviously have to wear clothes that won’t negatively affect your physical performance. Make sure the clothes you choose aren’t too tight. Tight-fitting clothes won’t let you move and work as efficiently.
- Sturdy, steel-toed safety shoes should be worn for several reasons. One, safety shoes can help protect the feet from harm. Two, in many instances they can prevent possible accidents, i.e., they can keep you from tripping or falling. Three, OSHA requires safety shoes to be worn in certain workplaces. Additionally, the steel toe itself provides a good advantage when working around very active machinery or where tools are in use. Wearing safety shoes can lead to an overall increase in awareness when performing hazardous tasks or in hazardous areas within a workplace.
Safety Measures for Grinding Disc Use
- Before you put a grinding disc on a mount, you have to examine that disc with your own eyes. Look for any kind of crack, any sort of chip, or even any basic dent. Not only will such a disc not work well, but it can also be extremely dangerous and send pieces flying all over the place.
- Make sure you mount the disc properly onto the grinder. Follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer to do this. Pay close attention to the flanges and make sure you use the right ones for the job. Tighten everything down so that the disc is secured to the grinder and won’t come flying off during use.
- Selecting the correct disc for the job is crucial. Consider the following when choosing your disc: the material you’re working with and the type of grinding you’ll be doing.
- Grind slowly. Make sure the grinder is at full speed before you bring it to the workpiece.
- Hold the Right Position: Maintain the right angle as you hold the grinder during different grinding operations. Don’t exert too much force. Grinding with excessive pressure can cause the disc to overheat or fragment.
- Keep your distance from other people as you work, and warn them not to approach until you’re through. The section at the “Cutting Line of Consequences” in the box on the following page gives a clear picture of why you should follow this rule—if it’s broken, there’s a chance you or someone near you could get seriously hurt.
- One of the tool operators reported that they’d always used the guard and had never experienced a kickback. Another tool operator said they’d given up trying to convince coworkers of the value of the guard after a few attempts.
- Make sure to give yourself a break—ideally, a short one at least every 30 minutes. That’s about the longest period of time you should stay focused on one thing anyway. Push for 60 minutes and your thinking and decision-making will suffer. Dangerously.
Conclusion:
When using power tools, the most important consideration is safety. You must be wearing the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) and following safe work practices, or your risk of injury is high. For us (and no doubt for you), the most important safety feature when using a power tool is having the correct guard in place and using it properly. But there are other aspects of grinder safety to consider as well. Being safe means using common sense, following regulations, and using the right tools for the job. Here are some guidelines and best practices for working safely with grinders.