Educational guidance on how workplace induction and safety instruction generally work — connected to workplace safety, occupations, industries, employment documents and company types. Informational only — not certified training, not an official qualification and not a substitute for mandatory workplace instruction; employers remain responsible for required training, competence and authorisation.
What this instruction covers
Grinding safety instruction explains, in general terms, the hazards of bench, pedestal and portable grinding, how to use a grinder safely, and why wheel mounting is a restricted, trained task.
This page is an educational outline only. It does not replace the manufacturer’s instructions, the employer’s risk assessment, machine-specific instruction or the formal training abrasive wheels require.
The hazards
- Wheel breaking up at speed and ejecting fragments.
- Contact with the rotating wheel and trapping at the work rest.
- Sparks, hot particles and the risk of fire and burns.
- Harmful dust depending on the material being ground.
- Eye injuries from grit, sparks and ejected particles.
Who needs this instruction
- Workers who use bench, pedestal or portable grinders.
- Those who mount or dress wheels (formal training and appointment required).
- Supervisors who oversee grinding and authorisation.
- New starters and transfers before any grinding task.
The safe method
- Use a wheel suited to the machine speed, material and task.
- Keep the work rest set close to the wheel and adjust it only when stopped.
- Grind on the face of a straight wheel, not the side, and apply work steadily.
- Stand to one side when starting and let the wheel reach full speed.
- Do not exceed the maximum speed marked on the wheel.
Guarding & controls
- Wheel guards and tongue guards must be fitted and correctly set.
- Keep the work rest gap small to stop work being drawn in.
- Do not run a grinder with a guard missing or damaged.
- Use the controls and let the wheel stop fully before adjusting.
Required PPE
- Eye and face protection against sparks and grit.
- Hearing protection where the work is noisy.
- Dust protection (RPE) where harmful dust is produced.
- Close-fitting clothing and no loose items that could be drawn in.
Pre-use checks
- Inspect the wheel for cracks, chips and damage.
- Confirm the wheel speed rating suits the machine.
- Check the guard, tongue guard and work rest gaps are correctly set.
- Do not use a damaged wheel or an unguarded machine.
Isolation before mounting & maintenance
- Isolate the machine before mounting, changing or dressing a wheel.
- Confirm the wheel has stopped fully before any adjustment.
- Mounting and dressing are controlled tasks for trained, appointed staff.
- Restore guards and checks before returning the machine to use.
What the worker is and is not authorised to do
- Use a grinder only if instructed and authorised for that machine.
- Do not mount, change or dress a wheel unless formally trained and appointed.
- Do not remove or defeat the wheel guard or work rest.
- Do not exceed marked speeds or grind on the side of a straight wheel.
What to do if something is wrong
- Stop and isolate if the wheel vibrates, runs out of balance or sounds wrong.
- Report cracked wheels, damaged guards and faulty machines.
- Take a faulty grinder out of use and label it.
- Report any burst, injury or near miss immediately.
Training & competence
Reading this page does not make a worker competent or authorised. Grinding needs machine-specific instruction and assessment, and mounting wheels is a recognised high-risk task.
Mounting and changing abrasive wheels legally requires formal training and the employer appointing and authorising the person. This page provides no training, qualification or appointment.
Documentation
- A record of the grinding instruction and any formal abrasive wheel training.
- An appointment or authorisation record for those who mount wheels.
- Wheel inspection and machine maintenance records kept by the employer.
- These can be shared as PDFs; a record documents instruction, not competence.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Letting an untrained, unappointed person mount or dress a wheel.
- Running a grinder with a missing guard or wide work rest gap.
- Using a cracked wheel or exceeding the marked maximum speed.
- Grinding on the side of a straight wheel or forcing the work.
Who is responsible
The employer is responsible for safe machines and wheels, guarding, the formal training abrasive wheels require, appointing and authorising those who mount them, assessing competence and keeping records. This guide is an educational outline to support that work.
It does not deliver training, certify, appoint or authorise anyone, satisfy any legal requirement or transfer the employer’s responsibility for grinding safety and supervision.
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