Safety Advice

The DOs and DON'Ts

DOs 

✓ DO always handle & store wheels carefully. Cutting-off wheels should be stacked horizontally & flat, preferably on a steel base plate. Depressed centre wheels should be placed on top of each other or stored in the original packaging 

✓ DO always visually inspect all wheels before mounting for possible damage in transit 

✓ DO always use a safety guard & ensure that it is correctly positioned & securely fitted. It should cover at least one half of the wheel & protect the operator in the unlikely event of a wheel breakage. NON-REINFORCED CUTTING-OFF WHEELS SHOULD ONLY BE USED ON FIXED MACHINES & SHOULD BE CORRECTLY GUARDED. 

✓ DO always switch ‘OFF’ the power at supply source &/or remove the plug from the socket before changing the wheel 

✓ DO always ensure that the spindle speed of the machine does not exceed the operating speed marked on the wheel 

✓ DO always use the correct wheel mounting flanges & ensure that they are undamaged, clean & free from burrs 

✓ DO Allow newly mounted wheels to run at operating speed, with the guard in place, for a reasonable time before cutting or grinding 

✓ DO always wear EYE PROTECTION 

✓DO always wear appropriate safety clothing such as DUST MASK, GLOVES, EAR PROTECTION, and OVERALLS & SAFETY SHOES 

✓ DO always have machine speeds checked regularly, especially after maintenance or repair. Machines fitted with speed control devices (Governors), must be properly maintained at all times 

✓ DO Check tension of driving belts, where fitted, on a regular basis. Belts must be kept tight to ensure full power transmission. 

✓ DO always secure the work piece firmly while it is being cut or ground 

✓ DO Put portable machines in suitable cradles, when not being used, to avoid damage to the wheel 

✓ DO always use a portable machine in a comfortable position, where the work piece is well balanced & the machine is well supported 

✓ DO Grind at an angle above 30 degrees to the workpiece with a depressed centre grinding wheel 

✓ DO Keep the working area around cutting & grinding operations clear. It is very dangerous if an operator trips & falls with an operating machine in his hands

✓ DO Read the safety instructions provided by the abrasives and equipment supplier 

✓ DO Store abrasives in dry, frost-free conditions avoiding wide variations in temperature 

✓ DO Ensure that the product is suitable for its purpose 

✓ DO Handle, store and transport products with care 

✓ DO Disconnect the power to the machine before fitting the product 

✓ DO Examine all products before mounting and periodically during use for possible defects or damage (core flatness, fatigue cracks, undercutting, arbour hole damage...) 

✓ DO Check that correct mounting devices are used and that they are clean, undistorted and free from burrs 

✓ DO Ensure that work rests are properly adjusted and secure 

✓ DO always use a correctly designed and adjusted guard (on belts) 

✓ DO Ensure that the work piece is secure 

✓ DO Wear appropriate personal protective equipment at all times 

✓ DO Avoid clogging and uneven wear to ensure that the product is working efficiently 

✓ DO Ensure accordance between product direction arrow / machine rotation 

✓ DO be aware of the hazards likely during the use of abrasives and observe the recommended precautions to be taken: • Bodily contact with the abrasive product at operating speed • Injury resulting from product breakage during use • Grinding debris, sparks, fumes and dust generated by the grinding process • Noise • Vibration

DON’Ts

✘ DON’T Handle wheels roughly 

✘ DON’T Use non-reinforced cutting-off wheels on portable machines 

✘ DON’T Store wheels in a damp atmosphere or in extreme temperatures 

✘ DON’T Mount a damaged wheel 

✘ DON’T Tighten the mounting nut or locking flange excessively. To do so can distort the flanges 

✘ DON’T Force a wheel onto a machine spindle 

✘ DON’T Use mounting flanges which are incorrect, damaged, dirty or burred 

✘ DON’T Use blotters with depressed centre wheels less than or equal to 406mm 

✘ DON’T Use a machine which is not in good mechanical condition 

✘ DON’T Use a machine without a wheel guard 

✘ DON’T Use wheels without proper ventilation or dust protection equipment 

✘ DON’T Apply side pressure to cutting-off wheels. You should not bend the wheel 

✘ DON’T Stop the wheel by applying pressure to the periphery or face. Always switch the machine off & allow the wheel to stop revolving 

✘ DON’T Allow the wheel to be trapped or pinched in the cut 

✘ DON’T Apply excessive pressure onto the wheel so that the driving motor slows down 

✘ DON’T Grind on the side of cutting-off wheels or depressed centre wheels below 4,0mm thickness 

✘ DON’T Drop or lower a portable machine by the cable or airline onto the floor. A wheel can be easily cracked, if it is put down hard, by the weight of the machine. This is a common cause of wheel breakage 

✘ DON’T Grind with a depressed centre grinding wheel at an angle below 30 degrees to the work piece 

✘ DON’T Use a machine in a position where you do not have full control of the machine & you are not well balanced

✘ DON’T Allow untrained people to use abrasives 

✘ DON’T Use a product that is damaged 

✘ DON’T Use a product if it cannot be properly identified 

✘ DON’T Use a machine that is not in good working order or one with defective parts 

✘ DON’T Force the abrasive onto the mounting device or modify the size of the mounting hole 

✘ DON’T Exceed the maximum operating speed marked on the product 

✘ DON’T Apply shock or excessive force to the product or let it overheat 

✘ DON’T Use mounting flanges which are not clean and flat 

✘ DON’T Tighten the mounting device excessively 

✘ DON’T start the machine until the guard is in place and fastened securely 

✘ DON’T Continue to use a product if vibration occurs. True or replace it 

✘ DON’T Grind on the part of the product which is not designed for the operation 

✘ DON’T Start the machine with the work piece in contact with the abrasive product 

✘ DON’T Grind material for which the product is not designed 

✘ DON’T Stop the abrasive by applying pressure to its surface, let it stop naturally 

✘ DON’T Wear loose clothing, ties and jewellery 

✘ DON’T Use abrasive products near flammable materials.