Grinding Operations

This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Grinding Operations outlines critical safety measures to prevent hazards associated with grinding activities. It addresses risks such as wheel disintegration, kickback, and exposure to harmful substances, providing essential guidelines for operators and safety personnel. Essential for compliance with Australian workplace safety legislation, this document helps ensure a safer work environment, reducing the likelihood of accidents and injuries. Perfect for any workplace that utilizes grinding equipment.

• Wheel disintegration or burst at high RPM → struck-by, lacerations, fatality
• Kickback from wheel binding or pinching → loss of control, lacerations
• Ejected sparks and hot particles igniting flammable materials → fire/explosion
• Eye injury from flying particles → blindness
• Inhalation of respirable crystalline silica from concrete/stone grinding → silicosis
• Contact with rotating wheel → severe lacerations, amputation
• Hand-arm vibration from prolonged use → vibration white finger
• Noise exposure exceeding 85 dB(A) → hearing damage

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and applicable state/territory WHS legislation
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Cth) — Part 3.1 Managing risks of plant; Part 7.1 Hazardous chemicals (silica)
• AS 1788.1 — Abrasive wheels
• AS/NZS 1337 — Personal eye protection
• AS/NZS 1270 — Acoustics — Hearing protectors
• AS/NZS 1716 — Respiratory protective devices
• AS 4024.1 series — Safety of machinery
• Safe Work Australia — Code of Practice: Managing the Risks of Plant in the Workplace
• Safe Work Australia — Code of Practice: Working with Crystalline Silica and Silica Containing Products
• Safe Work Australia — Code of Practice: Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work
• Grinder Pre-Start Checklist (associated document)