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OSHA Safety Hazard Information Bulletin on Bench Grinders


April 10, 1990

MEMORANDUM FOR REGIONAL ADMINISTRATORS
THRU: LEO CAREY
Director
Office of Field Program
FROM: THOMAS J. SHEPICH
Director
Directorate of Technical Support
SUBJECT: Safety Hazard Information Bulletin on Bench Grinders

The Directorate of Technical Support issues Hazard Information Bulletins (HIB) as needed to provide relevant information regarding unrecognized or misunderstood safety and health hazards, inadequacies of materials, devices, techniques, and engineering controls. HIB's are initiated based on information provided by the field staff, studies, reports and concerns expressed by safety and health professionals, employers, and the public. Information is compiled based on a comprehensive evaluation of available facts, literature and in coordination with appropriate parties. HIB's do not necessarily reflect OSHA policy.

The Boston Regional Office has bought to our attention a potentially serious hazard existing with an employer's use of a bench grinder equipped with abrasive wheels were rated at 3103 RPM and the grinder motor was rated at 3450 RPM.

The BR Tools bench grinder, Model BG-8, was purchased with 8-inch TAI HWA Grinding Wheel Company Ltd. wheels already installed. Both the grinder and the abrasive wheels were manufactured in Taiwan. The employer could not provide information as to where the bench grinder was purchased.

While this may be an isolated case of mismatched abrasive wheels and bench grinder, it has not been possible to contact the manufacturer to verify the same. Indeed, this grinder in the same configuration may have been imported by various distributors nationwide.

Please distribute this bulletin to all Area Offices, State Plan States and Consultation Projects.