This document provides information on selecting, mounting, inspecting, storing, and using abrasive wheels safely. It outlines the key hazards associated with abrasive wheels, and how to properly select, mount, inspect, balance, store and dress wheels. It also describes regulations regarding training requirements for working with abrasive wheels and required personal protective equipment.

1. Selecting, Mounting, Inspecting and Storing,
and of Abrasive Wheels

2.  This Course will enable you to comply with all
your statutory duties in relation to the
Abrasive Wheel Regulations.
 This Course does not cover the safe use of
Abrasive Wheel Equipment.
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3.  On completing this course you will be able to
:
◦ Identify the hazards associated with the use of
abrasive wheels and the precautions which should
be observed
◦ Select the correct type of abrasive wheel
◦ Safely mount the abrasive wheel to the machine
◦ Safely and correctly store, handle and transport the
abrasive wheels
◦ Inspect and test an abrasive wheel
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4.  On completing this course you will be able to
:
◦ Identify the functions of all components used with
abrasive wheels, including the flanges, washers,
bushes and nuts used in mounting abrasive wheels
◦ Demonstrate the knowledge and skill to assemble
all component parts correctly
◦ Check for correct balancing of the abrasive wheel
◦ Dress the abrasive wheels
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5.  On completing this course you will be able to
:
◦ Safely adjust the rest on an abrasive wheel
◦ Select and use the correct PPE
◦ Know how to use advisory literature
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6.  The General Application Regulations 2007
(Amended in 2016 to include Abrasive
Wheels) requires anybody engaged in the
selection and fitting of abrasive wheels to be
trained and authorised
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7.  The person must be:
◦ Trained in the selection, mounting, inspection and
fitting of abrasive wheels
◦ Considered competent
◦ Entered on a register with their employer
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8.  The regulation defines an Abrasive Wheel as
◦ Any wheel, cylinder, disc or cone which, consists of
abrasive particles held together by mineral, metallic or
organic bonds, whether natural or artificial.
◦ A wheel or disc made (in either case) of metal, wood,
cloth, felt, rubber or paper and having any surface
consisting wholly or partly of abrasive material, or a
wheel, disc or saw, to any surface of which is attached a
rim or segments consisting of diamond abrasive particles.
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9.  The main causes of accidents associated with
abrasive wheels are:
◦ Contact injuries (60%)
◦ Eye injuries (30%)
◦ Wheel disintegration (10%)
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10.  Any person engaged in using, truing or
dressing an abrasive wheel must wear
suitable eye protection as well as being
protected by the transparent safety screen
fitted to the machine
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11.  Goggles & Face Shield (Grade B Impact)
 Fire Retardant Overalls
 Gloves
 Toe Protection
 Ear Defenders
 Dust Mask to recommended standard
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13.  Contact injuries account for 60% of all
accidents involving abrasive wheels:
◦ Cuts
◦ Abrasions
◦ Entanglements
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18.  Eye injuries account for a further 30% of the
injuries involving abrasive wheels
 This is a result of not wearing suitable eye
and face protection
 Always remember that it is the work being
done that determines the protection
necessary and not cost or choice
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20.  The final 10% of injuries involving abrasive
wheels results from incorrect selection or
fitting leading to disintegration
 Over 60% of all wheel disintegration results
from the incorrect selection of the abrasive
wheel
 Over-speeding is another major cause of
wheel break-up
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23.  There are two main types of abrasive wheel:
◦ Aluminium Oxide (A) is used to grind materials
which have a high tensile strength such as
hardened steel, ferrous metal, cast iron, toughened
bronze, wrought iron etc.
◦ Silicone Carbide (C) is used to grind materials which
have a low tensile strength such as aluminium, non
ferrous metal, brass, soft bronze etc.
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24.  Sometimes abrasive wheels may be:
◦ Diamond
◦ Ceramic
◦ Cubic Boron Nitride
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25.  Type 1 – Straight sided vitrified wheels
not exceeding 250mm
 Type 27 – Depressed centre reinforced
resinoid grinding wheels
 Type 41 - Straight sided reinforced
resinoid cut-off wheels
 Type 42 - Depressed centre reinforced
resinoid cut-off wheels
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26.  The following information should be marked
on an abrasive wheel:
◦ Maximum RPM of the wheel
◦ Bore, Thickness and Diameter of the wheel
◦ EN12413 System details
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27.  Other information should include:
◦ Suppliers Name - Accountability
◦ Usage - Stone or Metal (Steel)
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Name:
Purpose:
Dimensions:
Advice:
Directive:
Restrictions:
Compliance:
Speed Stripe:
Speed:
Max RPM:
Compliance:
Markings:
Disc Type:
Use by Date:
Barcode:

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A Stone Cutting Disc
Name:
Purpose:
Dimensions:
Advice:
Directive:
Restrictions:
Compliance:
Speed Stripe:
Speed:
Max RPM:
Compliance:
Markings:
Disc Type:
Use by Date:
Barcode:

30. Prefix Abrasive Grain
Size
Grade Structure Bond
Type
Suffix
A 30 R BF
C 24 R BF
A 60 M V
W A 46 K 5 V 17
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31. 31
A30 RBF
EN12413 Standard Marking System

32. 32
A30 RBF
A = Aluminium Oxide
High Tensile Materials
C = Silicone Carbide
Non-High Tensile
Materials
Type of Grit

33. 33
A30 RBF
Grit Size
High No
Fine Grit
Low No
Course Grit
Type of Grit

34. 34
A36 RBF
Hardness
The higher the
Letter the Harder
the Wheel
Grit Size
Type of Grit

35. 35
A36 P BF
Bakelite Bond
(Resin Bond)
Hardness
Grit Size
Type of Grit Bond Type

36. 36
A36 P BF
Fibre
Reinforced
Bakelite Bond
Hardness
Grit Size
Type of Grit

37. 37
A30 RBF
Fibre
Reinforced
Bakelite Bond
Hardness
Grit Size
Type of Grit

38. 38
C24 RBF
Fibre
Reinforced
Bakelite Bond
Hardness
Grit Size
Type of Grit
C = Silicone Carbide
Non-High Tensile
Materials

39. 39
A60 M V
Bond Type
Hardness
Grit Size
Type of Grit
Vitrified
Means “to
Make Glass
like”
A = Aluminium Oxide
High Tensile Materials

40.  Visually inspect for:
◦ Information
◦ Use
◦ Damage
◦ Warping
◦ Contamination
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41.  Hold the abrasive
wheel using a non-
metallic or wooden
dowel
 Tap at 8 equal points
around the wheel
using the dowel
 Listen for
“ring tone”
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42.  Wheels must be stored in:
◦ Dry Conditions
◦ Preferably in the Manufacturers Packaging
◦ No Extremes of Temperatures
◦ On Designated Shelving
◦ On Pegs or Unpacked
◦ 2 Year shelf life
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43.  Abrasive wheels should be handled with
extreme care, particularly vitrified wheels
 Not Transported on the Machine
 Always inspect an abrasive wheel before
fitting it to a machine
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44.  Blotters - Spread the Clamping Pressure
Evenly
◦ Required on all Vitrified Wheels and Cut-Off
Wheels above 400mm
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45.  Flanges - Fix the Wheel to the Machine and
Provide Rotation
◦ They must be:
 Equal in Size
 Undamaged
 Correct for the Machine
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46.  Bushes -
 Lock Nuts - Correct for machine and hand tight
using correct tool
46
Bushes & Lock Nuts

47.  Necessary if balance weights are
fitted
 Unbalanced wheels cause:
Vibration
Chatter Marks on the Material
Possible Wheel Burst
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48.  Uncovers Fresh Grit
 Squares the Face
 Removes Foreign Matter
 Requires Full PPE
48
Wheel Dressing & Truing

49.  The tool rest must always be fitted
 It should be adusted to no more than 3mm
gap from the abrasive wheel
 Must be on or above the centre line of the
abrasive wheel
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50.  Using an abrasive wheel should be a last
resort.
 An angle grinder is not a cutting machine it is
a cut off tool.
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