Abrasive Wheel Training

Who is this course for?

On completion of this Abrasive Wheel Training course, you should be able to use abrasive wheels and their associated equipment safely and, in the event of a wheel breakage, the precautions that you will take affords you and others in the proximity of your work, protection from injury.

This course is suitable for anyone who uses abrasive wheels in their work activities. It is particularly relevant for those who use Angle Grinders, Con Saws, Bench Mounted Chop Saws, Brick Saws, Hole Cutting Drills, Wall Chasers, Road Saws, Die Grinders, bench grinders, etc. Although the training doesn’t cover the use of specialist grinding machines, the health and safety information throughout the course is still applicable.

This course has been written at an introductory level and no pre-requisite training is required. Experience of using abrasive wheels would be advantageous.

This certified online training is ideal for people working in positions such as, but not limited to:

• Builder / Floor Layer / Bricklayer
• Electrician
• Carpenter / Joiner / Fitter
• Site / Project Manager
• Welder

Abrasive wheels are extensively used in industries for various purposes. The use of abrasive wheels in an unsafe way often causes accidents leading to personal injuries and/or damage to properties. Nearly half of all accidents involving abrasive wheels are due to an unsafe system of work or operator error. This Abrasive Wheel training course advises on precautions you can take to prevent accidents in the use of abrasive wheels, in particular injury resulting from either wheel breakage or contact with a running wheel.

Because the use of abrasive wheel’s, predominantly on angle grinders, is commonplace in a lot of workplaces, many workers become complacent over time about the potential hazards associated with their use. This has led to a significant number of accidents resulting in life changing injuries and in some cases, fatalities.

It is important to note, that every abrasive wheel has the potential to break or shatter and as such, every time you go to use an abrasive wheel, you must ensure that you follow the manufacturer’s guidance for both the equipment and the abrasive wheel.

What is an Abrasive Wheel?

An Abrasive Wheel is an expendable wheel that is composed of an abrasive compound used for various grinding (abrasive cutting) and abrasive machining operations. Grinding Wheels are used on grinding machines and are made from a matrix of abrasive particles pressed and bonded together to form a solid circular shape.

A wheel, cylinder, abrasive wheel or cone consists of abrasive particles held together by a resin or vitrified bond;

• A resin bond is a resin-based bond commonly used in portable abrasive cutting and grinding abrasive wheels
• A vitrified bond is a bond that uses ceramic glass like material which is fired or cured at high temperatures and are used in bench wheels and surface grinding

Abrasive wheels also incorporate any wheel, abrasive wheel or saw, to any surface of which is attached a rim or segments consisting of diamond abrasive particles, like diamond blades used for cutting concrete, asphalt, marble, etc, which is, or is intended to be, power-driven, and is for use in any grinding or cutting operations for example cutting and grinding abrasive wheels used on angle grinders.

Abrasive Wheel Course Aim & Outline

At the end of this training course, you should be able to;

• Outline safety regulations & legislation relating to the use of abrasive wheels
• List different types of abrasive wheels
• List different types of equipment that use abrasive wheels
• Describe the functions of abrasive wheels and the associated components
• State the methods for selecting, marking, storing, handling and transporting abrasive wheels
• Carry out inspection and testing checks on abrasive wheels
• Mount a wheel correctly and conduct pre-use checks
• Select the appropriate PPE
• Prepare the work area
• Use abrasive wheels correctly
• Identify accidents associated with the use of abrasive wheels
• List the hazards related to the use of abrasive wheels

• Identify the precautions to be taken to prevent accidents when using abrasive wheels, in particular injury resulting from wheel breakage, contact with a running wheel, contact with debris, noise, vibration, electricity, dust, fumes and fire.
• Follow manufacturers guidance when using abrasive wheels and their associated equipment.

For more information on abrasvie wheel requirements visit Health and Safety Authority of Ireland and read our blog on Investing in Health & Safety

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