OSHA safety regulation for bench grinders too dangerous to ignore
Don Horne
Products ippt Plant Safety
OSHA 29 CFR SubPart O 1910.215 for bench grinders is one of the most frequently cited machine-safety standards for violations during OSHA inspections, and one of the most dangerous to ignore. OSHA 1910.215 is a “machine specific” (vertical) regulation with a number of requirements, which if left unchecked, are often cited by OSHA as violations. ANSI B11.9-2010 (Grinders) and ANSI B7.1 2000 (Abrasive Wheels) also apply. The OSHA standard refers to safety measures that are required to prevent a workpiece from being jammed between a grinder’s wheel and its rest, resulting in potential wheel breakage. Because grinders run at such high rotations per minute (RPM), wheels can actually explode when they break, potentially causing serious injuries, such as blindness, facial lacerations and even death.
A simple and effective solution is the Rockford Systems Bench Grinder Safety Gauge. It is for use during the installation, maintenance, and inspection of bench/pedestal grinders to ensure compliance with OSHA 1910.215. OSHA specifies that work-rests must be kept adjusted to within 1/8-inch of the wheel to prevent the workpiece from being jammed between the wheel and the rest, resulting in potential wheel breakage. In addition, the distance between the grinding wheel and the adjustable tongue-guard (also known as a “spark arrestor”) must never exceed 1/4-inch. Because the wheel wears down during use, both these dimensions must be regularly checked/adjusted.
“Grinder safety gauges” can be used during the installation, maintenance, and inspection of bench/pedestal grinders to make sure the work-rests and tongue-guards comply with OSHA’s 1910.215 regulation and ANSI standards. Wait until the wheel has completely stopped and the grinder is properly “Locked Out” before using a “grinder safety gauge.” Grinder coast-down time takes several minutes, which tempts employees to use the “grinder safety gauge” while the wheel is still rotating. This practice is very dangerous because it can cause wheel breakage.
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