SAFETY ALERT

1
SAFETY ALERT
GRINDER SAFETY
Summary of Incidents reported in SEIC
11-Oct-2003 NM - Cutting disc shattered, flying apart, nobody was injured.
27-Sep-2004 LTI Employee sustained an open fracture injury from a shattered grinding disc.
12-Feb-2005 MTC Employee was grinding metalwork when the grinding disc edge disintegrated smashing through his face shield and into the mouth area.
26-Aug-2005 RWC Employee was working with grinding machine on pipe when grinding disc smashed and one of the pieces hit his right hand.
09-Dec-2005 RWC Employee was grinding the bottom part of the pipe. Some parts of the grinding disc flew out and hit his lips.
05-Jun-2006 FAC Employee was grinding a pipe when the grinding disc broke and punctured his left boot resulting in a small punctured wound on his right foot.
Recommendations

• Grinding machines and abrasive wheels should
  always be used in accordance with the
• manufacturers instructions.
• In particular
• Wear all required personal protective equipment
  such as eye, face, and hearing protection as
  well
• as gloves and safety shoes.
• Always ensure the maximum speed (the no load
  rpm) marked on the abrasive wheel is greater
• than the rated speed of the grinder.
• - Do not use grinding wheels that are larger
  than the maximum recommended size, or worn down
• wheels from other grinders.
• - Never use grinding wheel power tools without
  the wheel guard attached to the tool and
  positioned
• for maximum safety.
• - Store and handle abrasive wheels with care and
  inspect them for chips or cracks before
  installing.
• - Do not use any wheel that may be damaged.

Injury from shattered cutting disk (not Shell)
Results of not following manufacturers
instructions
SEIC Central HSES Operational Safety Support Group