Date Adopted: 7 March 2013 Reviewed: 7 March 2013 Due for Review: 7 March 2015 Business Unit: HSE Current Policy Date: 7 March 2013 ANGLE GRINDER USE PROCEDURE 1.0 PURPOSE 2.0 SCOPE 3.0 REFERENCES TasPorts has a duty of care to ensure that workers and other persons are not exposed to health and safety risks arising from the business, this duty includes ensuring, so far as is reasonably practicable the provision and maintenance of safe plant, and the safe use, handling,storage and transport of plant. This procedure shall define the application and use of electric & air supplied angle grinders by all. This procedure covers the use of all portable angle grinders up to and including 7 (180mm). This document applies to all TasPorts employees, contractors/ subcontractors, visitors and other workers on Tasports controlled sites. This procedure cannot and does not replace any statutory requirements or obligations of employees and management. Indeed, it should be viewed as supporting our statutory obligations regarding Occupational Health and Safety. 3.1 Tasports PPE Procedure and Standard 3.2 Tasports New, Disposed or Changed Asset Assessment and Notification Procedure and Checklist. 3.3 Tasports Permit to Work System - Hot Work Permit 3.4 Relevant Australian Standards AS 2210: Safety footwear. AS 3765: Clothing for protection against hazardous chemicals. AS 2161: Industrial safety gloves and mittens (excluding electrical and medical gloves). AS 1336: Recommended practices for occupational eye protection. AS 1337: Eye protectors for industrial applications. AS 1319: Safety signs for the occupational environment. Angle Grinder Use Procedure Page 1 of 5
AS 2899: Public information symbol signs. 4.0 DEFINITIONS Angle Grinder - An electrically or pneumatically powered grinding device designed and intended to be held and manipulated by the operator. It includes all variants including straight and acute types. It includes machines being used for the purposes of grinding or cutting. Dead Man switch - A switch that requires the operator to hold in the switch in order to apply continuing energy to the grinder. It is designed such that in the event of an incident or loss of control, the switch is released to de-energise the machine. Soft start - An electronic feature of the grinder designed to reduce the starting inertial effect of the grinder to reduce the likely hood of loss of control. Electronic brake - A feature of the grinder designed to stop the grinder motor quickly when the power switch is released. Safety Clutch - A feature of the grinder intended to mechanically disconnect the motor from the gearbox assembly in the event of a stall or kick back. 5.0 PROCEDURE 5.1 General All tasks involving the use of any grinder must be subject to a pre task risk assessment. A job start card is set as a minimum. 5.1.1 Wherever practicable, safer tools shall be used in preference to hand held angle grinders (particularly for cutting operations). 5.1.2 Where use of an angle grinder cannot practicably be avoided, the size of angle grinder selected for the task shall be assessed through Job Safety Analysis and minimised. 5.1.3 Abrasive wheels used for cutting/grinding operations shall not exceed 180 mm (7 ). 5.1.4 Angle grinders above 125mm (5 ) shall not be used for any work above chest height. 5.2 Grinder specifications Angle Grinder Use Procedure Page 2 of 5
Angle grinders designed and manufactured in compliance with all applicable Australian Standards shall be used. 5.3 PPE 5.2.1 All grinders above 115 mm (4 ½ ) must have non lockable press to operate switches, fitted with an interlock requiring the trigger to be released before re-starting after any loss of power. 5.2.2 New and hired grinders shall be selected with a torque limiting device and/or a brake depending on the application (in the absence of models with both features torque limiting devices are more important for cutting. If the tool is predominantly used for grinding, selection of a unit with a brake may result in greater risk reduction). 5.2.3 In addition to the above features, preference shall be given to grinders with a soft (or progressive) start up. 5.2.4 Only abrasive wheels certified to AS 1788.1 Abrasive wheels Design, construction, and safeguarding shall be used. 5.2.5 Guards must always be fitted and firmly secured to prevent movement whenever the tool is in use. 5.2.6 Abrasive wheels must not be used on machines capable of speeds above the maximum speed rating of the wheel. e.g. Fitting of a larger guard to an angle grinder to allow a larger wheel to be fitted or transfer of a worn wheel to a smaller angle grinder will typically exceed the speed rating of the wheel and is not permitted. People using angle grinders shall wear hearing protection and be protected by: (a) combination of a high impact face shield (certified to AS1337, Eye protectors for industrial applications ) with goggles or equivalent close fitting eye protection; or (b) high impact rated full face respiratory protection (i.e. mask or combination face shield/hood). Note: Unless specifically certified to AS1337, Eye protectors for industrial applications, welding shields do not typically provide the required impact protection. Angle Grinder Use Procedure Page 3 of 5
5.4 Inspection 5.4.1 The condition of the wheel and the position of the guard and hand supports shall be checked prior to each use. 5.4.2 The mechanical condition of angle grinders, their guards, wheel flanges and the wheel fitted shall be checked at least every 6 months (in addition to pre-start and electrical safety checks). 5.5 Procurement 5.5.1 The purchase and approval of angle grinders for the site will be via the relevant Tasports Supervisor/Manager. 5.5.2 All new equipment may only be purchased through the New, Disposed or Changed Asset Assessment and Notification Procedure and Checklist. This is to ensure that this equipment meets the Australian Standards, is in line with TasPorts standards in relation the size permitted to be used, it is fit for its intended purpose and is recorded in the portable appliance database in Tasports asset management system 6.0 DOCUMENTATION 6.1 Permit to work. Refer to TasPorts Hot Work Procedure. The TasPorts procedure applies to everyone performing work for TasPorts on TasPorts sites. A hot work permit is required whenever work is to be done that generates heat or sparks (welding, cutting, grinding, etc.) outside of defined safe areas (eg. welding bays) or when the integrity of the fire system is put at risk. 7.0 AUTHORISATION & RESPONSIBILITY Management Angle Grinder Use Procedure Page 4 of 5
Management has a responsibility to protect its employees, contractors/ subcontractors, visitors and other workers on Tasports controlled sites from the risks associated with using portable grinder equipment. TasPorts Management shall provide grinding equipment to individual employees for work purposes on an 'as needs' basis. Management are also responsible for ensuring that portable grinders are Australian Standard approved and suitable for the area of use required and for the effective implementation of the procedure consistently mill-wide. TasPorts Management will consult with employees, their representatives and where necessary it s OHS Professionals in order to meet its organisational responsibilities. Employees, Contractors/Sub Contractors, Visitors and other workers on Tasports controlled sites. Your primary responsibility is to ensure you are complying with this procedure, along with other relevant procedures whilst working on the Tasports controlled sites. You are also to liaise with Management/OHS Unit if you believe that you are not being provided with the adequate PPE. The company provides equipment to assist in work activities. Your responsibility is to ensure that the equipment is appropriate for the task, to operate in a safe manner and to maintain this equipment to ensure your own health and safety. You are also to liaise with Management/OHS Unit if you believe that you are not being provided with the appropriate equipment or training. Angle Grinder Use Procedure Page 5 of 5