It only takes a moment for an accident to happen. We get in a hurry. We get distracted. We get complacent.

Mach-B doesn’t want that to happen to you so we’ve been posting a series of safety tips on Facebook and Twitter.But then we thought it’d be good to have them all in one place so here goes:

  • Always use eye protection in addition to the grinder’s eye shield
  • Make use of work rests on your machine
  • Always use the correct type of wheel for your project
  • Be sure your grinding wheel is properly balanced
  • Never grind on the side of a wheel that’s not designed for side-grinding
  • Take it slow when applying work to a cold wheel
  • Always use blotters
  • Don’t grind too high above the wheel center
  • Be sure to use the correct size spindles with threads that resist loosening
  • Never contact unguarded moving parts
  • Install correctly sized flanges
  • Make sure machine controls are easily accessible to the operator
  • Be sure to run a wet wheel dry before turning off the machine
  • Never use a broken or cracked grinding wheel
  • Always check grinding wheel balance before starting the grinding machine
  • Don’t reach across or near the moving grinding wheel to load, unload or adjust the machine
  • Inspect your grinding wheels for shipping damage upon arrival
  • Always ring test wheels before use
  • Don’t roll large grinding wheels on the shop floor
    Always bring your wheels up to room temperature before starting to grind
  • Store your grinding wheels as close to the work area as possible to reduce handling
  • Store your grinding wheels in dry areas with relatively constant temperatures
  • Always mount grinding wheels between flanges that are at least 1/3 the diameter of the wheel
  • Never use a defective flange to mount a grinding wheel
  • Always inspect and ring test grinding wheels before mounting
  • Rotate grinding wheels by hand several times before use to check clearance
  • Stand to the side of the wheel when starting it up
  • Wheels should fit properly on the spindle. They should neither too tight or too loose
  • Guards should enclose as much of the grinding wheels as possible
  • Wheels should never be operated at speeds exceeding the manufacturer’s specifications
  • Always check spindle speed when mounting a new wheel
  • Safety guards should cover the ends of the arbors
  • When slot grinding, use guides to hold the work in place to prevent bending or twisting
  • Be sure the work or tool rest is substantial enough to withstand grinding pressures
  • Keep the work or tool rest no more than 1/8″ from the grinding surface
  • Wheel dressing, truing and balancing should only be done by a trained operator
  • Allow at least 1 minute of warm up time before grinding

We encourage you to keep safety at top-of-mind because a safe workplace is a profitable workplace.