Educational checklist examples for safety, equipment and operational tasks — what a checklist covers, who uses it and how it connects to forms, inspections and training. Informational only — template examples to adapt, not official documents or legal advice; completing a checklist does not guarantee compliance and employers remain responsible.
What a bench grinder checklist is
A bench grinder checklist is a check before using a fixed bench or pedestal grinder, focusing on the wheels, the guards and the all-important work-rest and tongue gaps that stop a workpiece being dragged in, because a trapped workpiece or a worn wheel is a common cause of injury.
This page is an educational overview with a simplified example of what such a checklist usually covers. It is not an official template, not specific to any machine or jurisdiction and not legal advice — the employer decides the check and who may dress or change wheels.
Purpose
- Confirm the wheels are undamaged, true and correctly rated for the machine.
- Check the guards and eye shields are fitted and correctly positioned.
- Confirm the work rest and tongue guard gaps are set correctly.
- Record the check and catch defects before grinding.
Who completes it
- The competent user, before use, with rest gaps confirmed.
- Only a trained, authorised person changes or dresses wheels.
- Damaged or wrongly set machines are not used until corrected.
- The employer decides who is competent to set up and use the grinder.
When it is used
- Before each use, especially the first use of the shift.
- After a wheel has been changed or dressed.
- When the work rest or eye shield has moved.
- On the frequency the employer sets.
Typical items
- Machine ID, user, date and shift.
- Wheels undamaged, true and correctly rated; no visible cracks.
- Guards and transparent eye shields fitted and positioned.
- Work rest gap small and set; tongue guard gap set; wheel run-out acceptable.
- Defects found and action taken (e.g. locked off, reported).
- These are example items only — adapt them to the machine and your risk assessment.
Common mistakes
- A wide work-rest gap that lets the workpiece be dragged into the wheel.
- Grinding on the side of a wheel not made for side grinding.
- Missing or cracked eye shields and guards.
- A glazed or out-of-true wheel left in service.
Document workflow
A bench grinder checklist follows the task risk assessment and is closely related to the abrasive wheel check, which covers wheel mounting. It is used with the machine pre-use check; a failed check is completed after by locking off and reporting the defect, and a wheel burst or injury triggers an incident report and review.
See the related documents below for what is commonly completed before, used with and completed after a bench grinder check.
Retention (high level)
Where checks are recorded, employers usually keep them for a period they set, alongside the machine records. Specific retention periods vary by jurisdiction and type of work.
This page does not state a required period — confirm retention with the applicable law and the official authority.
Completing and sharing as a PDF
Recorded checks are often stored as PDFs alongside the machine’s records. Exporting to PDF supports the record; it does not make the check official or guarantee compliance.
Employer checklist
- Ensure work rests and tongue guards are set and only competent people change wheels.
- Provide guarded machines with eye shields in place.
- Make sure worn or damaged wheels are removed from use.
- Keep checks and machine records together.
Worker notes
- Check the work-rest gap and eye shields before grinding.
- Do not grind on the side of a wheel not made for it.
- Lock off and report a worn or damaged wheel.
Country considerations
Most countries require employers to provide safe work equipment and machine guarding, but the detail, terminology and record-keeping rules differ, and the official authority is different in each. This page is high-level and general — it is not a statement of any country’s law and not a guarantee that a checklist is valid anywhere.
Always confirm the current requirements with the official authority for your country and a qualified professional.
Who is responsible
The employer is responsible for providing safe, guarded grinders, correct set-up and user competence, and for compliance. This page is an educational overview with a template example; it does not certify a machine, does not replace training and does not transfer responsibility.
Export, edit and share documents
The documents, policies and templates this involves can be exported, edited, signed, stored and shared as PDFs with the HELPERG PDF Editor.
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