An abrasive wheel on a pedestal grinder exploded, hitting an employee in the head and killing him. OSHA recently issued 15 citations with fines of $159,600 to a company in Ohio following the inspection that arose from the fatality.
On our safety walkthroughs, we often write up companies for improperly adjusted guards on grinding wheels. The tongue guard must be adjusted within 1/4″ of the wheel and the work rest within 1/8″. Both the tongue guard and work rest must be present, along with the guard on the side of the grinding wheel. Employees should be instructed to do a ring test prior to mounting the wheel and to make sure the wheel is rated for the grinder.
Safety glasses and a face shield should be worn when using grinding wheels.
For more information on this citation, read OSHA’s press release.
For more information on grinding wheels, contact us.