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29 CFR 1910.215: Grinders and abrasive wheels

Subpart O—Machinery and Machine Guarding · official heading: Abrasive wheel machinery

Grinding wheels need guards. On bench and pedestal grinders, the work rest must be set within 1/8 inch of the wheel and the tongue guard within 1/4 inch.

12,732citations since 2015
7,625employers cited
88%serious, willful or repeat
$0median penalty per item

OSHA has cited 29 CFR 1910.215 12,732 times since 2015, against 7,625 employers. Penalties on these items add up to $11,138,618 at their current amounts.

Citations per year

The parts of the rule cited most

1910.215(b)(9) · 5,899 citations

(9) Exposure adjustment. Safety guards of the types described in subparagraphs (3) and (4) of this paragraph, where the operator stands in front of the opening, shall be constructed so that the peripheral protecting member can be adjusted to the constantly decreasing diameter of the wheel. The maximum angular exposure above the horizontal plane of the wheel spindle as specified in paragraphs (b) (3) and (4) of this section shall never be exceeded, and the distance between the wheel periphery and the adjustable tongue or the end of the peripheral member at the top shall never exceed one-fourth inch. (See Figures O-18, O-19, O-20, O-21, O-22, and O-23.)

1910.215(a)(4) · 5,174 citations

(4) Work rests. On offhand grinding machines, work rests shall be used to support the work. They shall be of rigid construction and designed to be adjustable to compensate for wheel wear. Work rests shall be kept adjusted closely to the wheel with a maximum opening of one-eighth inch to prevent the work from being jammed between the wheel and the rest, which may cause wheel breakage. The work rest shall be securely clamped after each adjustment. The adjustment shall not be made with the wheel in motion.

1910.215(a)(2) · 617 citations

(2) Guard design. The safety guard shall cover the spindle end, nut, and flange projections. The safety guard shall be mounted so as to maintain proper alignment with the wheel, and the strength of the fastenings shall exceed the strength of the guard, except:

1910.215(a)(1) · 611 citations

(a) General requirements—(1) Machine guarding. Abrasive wheels shall be used only on machines provided with safety guards as defined in the following paragraphs of this section, except:

1910.215(d)(3) · 210 citations

(3) Surface condition. All contact surfaces of wheels, blotters and flanges shall be flat and free of foreign matter.

1910.215(d)(1) · 74 citations

(d) Mounting—(1) Inspection. Immediately before mounting, all wheels shall be closely inspected and sounded by the user (ring test) to make sure they have not been damaged in transit, storage, or otherwise. The spindle speed of the machine shall be checked before mounting of the wheel to be certain that it does not exceed the maximum operating speed marked on the wheel. Wheels should be tapped gently with a light nonmetallic implement, such as the handle of a screwdriver for light wheels, or a wooden mallet for heavier wheels. If they sound cracked (dead), they shall not be used. This is known as the “Ring Test”.

1910.215(b)(5) · 53 citations

(5) Surface grinders and cutting-off machines. The maximum angular exposure of the grinding wheel periphery and sides for safety guards used on cutting-off machines and on surface grinding machines which employ the wheel periphery shall not exceed 150°. This exposure shall begin at a point not less than 15° below the horizontal plane of the wheel spindle. (See Figures O-12 and O-13)

1910.215(b)(3) · 32 citations

(3) Bench and floor stands. The angular exposure of the grinding wheel periphery and sides for safety guards used on machines known as bench and floor stands should not exceed 90° or one-fourth of the periphery. This exposure shall begin at a point not more than 65° above the horizontal plane of the wheel spindle. (See Figures O-6 and O-7 and paragraph (b)(9) of this section.)

Industries cited most

  • Manufacturing 5,474
  • Other Services (except Public Administration) 1,213
  • Construction 1,123
  • Public Administration 1,068
  • Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 637
  • Retail Trade 511

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Recently cited employers