If I was Back in a Plant Everyday, I think I Could Find Some Great Uses for This One!
Remembering that OHS and OSHA Auditors love to carry grinding wheel rest and guard gages I found this interesting while looking for stuff. I can think of any number of ways to use this, including posting it on or near all my grinders! I would laminate it.
https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/2018-12/fy10_sh-20856-10_Abrasive_Wheel_Checklist.pdf
PS I carry a 1/4" and 1/8" Allen Wrenches to use as gages for grinders in my Safety Vest. I have wired them to machines with a wrenches that fit the adjustment bolts.
PSS How many of you check the log for "ring-testing" the wheels? Whenever I am on tour I love to see the reaction when I ask to see it at someone's plant. Talk about a deer in the headlights! 1910. 215(d)(1). Remember Fitz's 5th Rule of Dealing with OSHA, "If you didn't document IT, you DID NOT DO IT!"
Comments (5)
Well said and great points, Fitz! We've purchased and use this gauge (link below) to help with that, then we sometimes give our customers one by slapping it on the grinder itself since it's magnetic.
In addition to the ring test, make sure to check the RPM rating on the abrasive wheel versus the grinder to ensure the wheel is rated higher than the grinder.
https://odiz.com/product/no-go-grinder-safety-gauge/
Oh, the good old ring test. Yep, most places I have been do not do the ring test. The have also looked at me funny when I have mentioned it.
Two nasty grinder stories.
#1 One of my supervisor had an employee's, 6'6" +300 pounds on a 36" grinder, grinding gates of castings that were drive shaft yokes. I do not remember the rpm of the wheel but it was fast. The gate was on the barrel and they put the hole through the yoke on a pin and rolled it around on the spinning wheel. How we got around MiOSHA on the Work Rest and guarding I do not remember. I remember showing a MiOSHA CSHO the operation a few months later, and he did not say much. I was talking to the supervisor about his night (I was his General Foreman). It was 1983 or 4. For some reason I remember the employee's name was "Red" as he had flaming red hair. Suddenly we heard this toe curdling, hair on your back standing up scream! Red is on his knees screaming has his left thumb was a 1" cone shape nub. I remember there was no blood, just a pink nub and his screaming! No thumb to find as it had been ground away. He rolled the thumb into the wheel! He screamed for the next 15 minutes until the ambulance came and got him!
#2 I was in Personnel and the "safety guy". A former supervisor peer had been moved to Maintenance. He was assisting his men one Saturday, which I am not sure how he did as he was no a Skilled Trades guy and was a supervisor not in the union (UAW) and should not have been working. They had just welded a joint and he was using a hand grinder to clean it up a bit, when the grinding wheel exploded. He had removed the guard off the grinder a few minutes earlier. And just before he had removed his hard hat (a huge no no in a foundry) on this hot summer day. A part of the wheel hit him in the heard just to the right of his forehead removing part of his skull. Immediately was taken to UofM Hospital Trauma Center 90 miles away. Had to have a stainless steel plate put in this head! In the hospital several weeks and never returned to work again. Prior to the accident a heck of a guy, close friend! After ornery & bitter