Write a toolbox talk on angle grinder safety

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# PORTABLE GRINDERS Date Posted: 05/13/2025 ## PORTABLE GRINDERS Like any tool on a construction site, portable grinders can present safety hazards, including flying particles and electrical hazards. Most injuries associated with portable grinder use are foreign bodies to the eyes and lacerations to the hands and body. These injuries typically result from the improper selection of tools, improper use or operation, failure to utilize the correct personal protective equipment, wrong abrasive/grinding wheel selection, improperly inspected and maintained equipment, or using equipment without proper guarding. Portable grinding wheels are designed to operate at very high speeds. Suppose a grinding wheel shatters while in use; the fragments can travel over 300 miles per hour. The potential for serious injury, material damage, and other losses from these shooting fragments is significant. ## INSPECTION, "RING" TEST, AND INSTALLATION OF ABRASIVE WHEEL Before using an abrasive wheel, inspect it thoroughly and conduct a sound- or ring-tested to ensure it is free from cracks or defects. To test, wheels shall be tapped gently (ring tested) with a non-metallic instrument. If the wheel sounds cracked or "dead," it could break apart, and hazardous fragments could become airborne. An undamaged wheel will give a clear metallic tone or "ring." To prevent the wheel from cracking, you must ensure it fits freely on the spindle. The spindle nut must be tightened enough (but not overly tightened) to hold the wheel in place without distorting the flange. ## PREPARING THE WORK AREA • Remove all flammable materials from the work area. • Ensure the work area is free from debris and well-maintained. • Keep the power cord away from the grinding wheel and the materials. • Keep non-essential personnel away from the work area. • Secure work to free both hands to operate the tool. ## PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) & WORK CLOTHING • Wear appropriate PPE, including safety glasses o…

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MIOSHA Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration ## Special points of interest: • Wear Hard Hats, Safety Glasses, and Work Boots on job sites. • Use face shields and goggles when safety glasses are not enough • Wear safety toe foot- wear when feet can be crushed by heavy objects # Tool Box Talk Personal Protective Equipment MIOSHA Construction Safety Standard Part 6. Personal Protective Equipment Employer: Shall provide, at no expense to the employee, the initial issue of personal protective equipment (PPE) and replacement equipment necessary due to reasonable wear and tear required, unless specifically indicated otherwise or other employer/employee agreement specifically requires employees to provide such equipment. Employee: An employee shall wear PPE when prescribed by the MIOSHA rules. ## Head protection (Hard Hat): . Class A hard hat shall be used where a hazard from falling or flying objects or particles or from other harmful contacts or exposures may be present • physically altered, painted, or damaged hard hats shall not be worn • Wear hard hat brim forward • Do not ware baseball hats underneath ## Eye and face protection: - Z87.1 safety glasses shall be used where a hazard exists from flying objects or particles, harmful contacts, such as when using power tools, hammers, and working over head. • An employee who needs corrective lenses where eye protection is required shall be protected by 1 of the following: (a) Spectacles whose protective lenses provide optical correction. (b) Goggles that can be worn over the corrective lenses without disturbing the adjustment of the spectacles. - Use goggles when working around dust, chemicals - Use face shields to protect face from particles, chemicals Face shields do not protect eyes from flying object high impacts, must use Z87.1 safety glasses underneath ## Foot protection: • Employee Provided / Employer must require • ANSI Z41-1999 or ASTM 2412 & 2413 certified footwear mu…

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# Option 1 ## HANDS/ARMS Work activities, such as: [ ] baking [ ] material handling [ ] cooking [ ] sanding [ ] grinding [ ] sawing [ ] welding [ ] hammering [ ] working with glass [ ] using computers [ ] using knives [ ] dental and health care services [ ] other: <empty> Work-related exposure to: [ ] blood [ ] irritating chemicals [ ] tools or materials that could scrape, bruise, or cut [ ] extreme heat/cold [ ] other: <empty> Can hazard be eliminated without the use of PPE? Yes [ ] No [ ] If no, use: [ ] Gloves [ ] Chemical resistance [ ] Liquid/leak resistance [ ] Temperature resistance [ ] Abrasion/cut resistance [ ] Slip resistance [ ] Protective sleeves [ ] Other: <empty> FEET/LEGS Work activities, such as: [ ] building maintenance [ ] construction [ ] demolition [ ] food processing [ ] foundry work [ ] logging [ ] plumbing [ ] trenching [ ] use of highly flammable materials [ ] welding [ ] other: <empty> Work-related exposure to: [ ] explosive atmospheres [ ] explosives [ ] exposed electrical wiring or components [ ] heavy equipment [ ] slippery surfaces [ ] tools [ ] other: <empty> Can hazard be eliminated without the use of PPE? Yes [ ] No [ ] If no, use: [ ] Safety shoes or boots [ ] Toe protection [ ] Metatarsal protection [ ] Electrical protection [ ] Heat/cold protection [ ] Puncture resistance [ ] Chemical resistance [ ] Leggings or chaps [ ] Foot-Leg guards [ ] Other: <empty> BODY/SKIN Work activities such as: [ ] baking or frying [ ] battery charging [ ] dip tank operations [ ] fiberglass installation [ ] irritating chemicals [ ] sawing [ ] other: <empty> Work-related exposure to: [ ] chemical splashes [ ] extreme heat/cold [ ] sharp or rough edges [ ] other: <empty> Can hazard be eliminated without the use of PPE? Yes [ ] No [ ] If no, use: [ ] Vest, Jacket [ ] Coveralls, Body suit [ ] Raingear [ ] Apron [ ] Welding leathers [ ] Abrasion/cut resistance [ ] Other: <empty> 19

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# OSHA QUICK CARD™ ## Protect Yourself Construction Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) ## Eye and Face Protection - Safety glasses or face shields are worn any time work operations can cause foreign objects to get in the eye. For example, during welding, cutting, grinding, nailing (or when working with concrete and/or harmful chemi- cals or when exposed to flying particles). Wear when exposed to any electrical hazards, including working on energized electrical systems. - Eye and face protectors - select based on anticipated hazards. ## Foot Protection - Construction workers should wear work shoes or boots with slip-resistant and puncture-resistant soles. • Safety-toed footwear is worn to prevent crushed toes when working around heavy equipment or falling objects. - Hand Protection - Gloves should fit snugly. - Workers should wear the right gloves for the job (examples: heavy-duty rubber gloves for concrete work; welding gloves for welding; insulated gloves and sleeves when exposed to electrical hazards). - Head Protection • Wear hard hats where there is a potential for objects falling from above, bumps to the head from fixed objects, or of accidental head contact with electrical hazards. - Hard hats - routinely inspect them for dents, cracks or deterioration; replace after a heavy blow or electrical shock; maintain in good condition. - Hearing Protection - Use earplugs/earmuffs in high noise work areas where chainsaws or heavy equipment are used; clean or replace earplugs regularly. For more complete information: Occupational OSHA Safety and Health Administration U.S. Department of Labor www.osha.gov (800) 321-OSHA OSHA 3260-09N-05

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# PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Date Posted: 09/03/2016 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is gear that can be worn to help minimize or eliminate injury. It can be worn to help prevent sudden injuries or injuries occur over time. It is very important the user understands the intended purpose of the PPE and verifies that it fits properly. that ## When to Wear PPE • Before you resort to PPE, you should first: • Use administrative controls • Implement Engineering Controls • Use local exhaust or general ventilation vs. a respirator • Control dust with a wet process vs. dry • Install sound reducing devices to mechanical equipment • When these other two means of protection are exhausted you then will need to select the appropriate PPE. - Often times PPE will be used in conjunction with administrative and engineering controls for added protection. ## BASIC TYPES OF PPE Head: Hard hat, welders cap Hearing: Earmuffs, ear plugs or canal caps Face/Eye: Safety glasses, face shield, safety goggles. Hand: Gloves for general use, chemical use, electrical work or hot work. Body: Chaps, leathers, coveralls Foot Protection: Leather boots, Safety toe/steel toe boots Personal Protective Equipment is gear that is worn to help minimize or eliminate injury. It is very important the user understands the intended purpose of the PPE, verifies that the PPE fits properly and is adequate for the work to be performed. Remember: PPE is the last line of defense against a hazard. LEARN MORE ## QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION • Does the PPE you wear to perform your work fit properly and is it in good working condition? What can be done in your work area to improve the use of PPE? • What improvements can be made to reduce the need for PPE? ## PRESENTER TIPS • Pre-read the Toolbox Talk. Your comfort level and confidence will be higher if you know your topic. Discuss related tasks, work areas or events that make the Toolbox Talk relevant to your job site. • Involve the workers …