Abrasive wheel risks: An employer’s guide

First published: June 28th 2023
Last updated: June 28th 2023

Part 12 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 (Regulations) sets out the law on the use of abrasive wheels for cutting or grinding at a place of work.

The Regulations bring specific workplace safety matters relating to abrasive wheels within the scope of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.

Who do the Regulations apply to?

Employers that use any abrasive wheel for grinding or cutting at a place of work have specific responsibilities under both the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the Regulations.

Employer’s responsibilities

If your workplace operates and uses abrasive wheels, as an employer you must ensure that the abrasive wheel is suitable for the work for which it is used, having regard to the risk of personal injury to any person.

This responsibility should address safety issues including but not limited to:

• the speed of revolution
• the proper mounting of abrasive wheels
• the safe use of abrasive wheels
• authorisation and training.

Abrasive wheel training

As an employer, your legal obligations now include providing written authorisation to any employee who uses an abrasive wheel on your premises.

Typically, this authorisation is included in your Safety Statement. Abrasive wheels are used in a wide range of tools and workplaces. It’s vital therefore that appropriate training is provided to authorised employees on how to use them safely. The risks and hazards posed by the handling and use of the abrasive wheel will depend on what type of tasks it is used for.

Abrasive wheel training should therefore be provided to all relevant employees and provide a general understanding of the risks and hazards that comes with using cutting and hand-grinding tools in your workplace.

This will typically involve instruction on the correct mounting, setting and use of abrasive wheels.

Expert health & safety training

Abrasive wheels training is essential to minimise the risk of injury to your staff and your business’s exposure to employee claims.

To find out more about health & safety training, speak to a Peninsula expert today on 1800 719 216