Product Overview

This Engineering Grinding Linishing and Abrasive Wheels SWMS is a site-ready safety document designed to identify hazards, implement controls, and support safe operation of grinding, linishing, and abrasive wheel equipment. It is a comprehensive, task-specific document that consolidates multiple activities related to abrasive wheels and metal finishing to support WHS compliance and effective control of high risk construction work.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Safe selection, mounting, and use of abrasive wheels in engineering workshops and on construction sites
• Training and competency requirements for abrasive wheel use in cabinet making and kitchen manufacturing environments
• Operation of abrasive wheels for precision engineering tasks, including cutting, grinding, and surface preparation
• Changing cutting teeth on grinders, including isolation, lock-out, and verification of correct fitment
• Filing sharp edges on metal components to remove burrs and reduce the risk of lacerations
• Use of linishers for smoothing, deburring, and finishing metal and timber products
• Removing sharp edges from fabricated parts using grinders, linishers, files, and other abrasive tools
• Sharpening blades and cutters, including correct clamping, guarding, and eye and face protection
• Wire brushing tasks using bench grinders and hand-held tools, including control of flying particles and entanglement risks
• Management of dust, sparks, and noise generated during grinding and linishing operations
• Inspection, maintenance, and replacement of abrasive wheels, guards, tool rests, and electrical leads
• Manual handling of heavy workpieces, jigs, and equipment associated with grinding and linishing work
• Emergency response procedures for eye injuries, burns, and other incidents related to abrasive wheel tasks

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for engineering workshops, cabinet makers, kitchen manufacturers, metal fabricators, maintenance teams, and site supervisors overseeing grinding, linishing, and abrasive wheel operations.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Safe Work Australia – Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice: Guidance on controlling risks associated with machinery and equipment, including grinders and linishers.
• Safe Work Australia – Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice: Requirements for managing noise from grinding, linishing, and abrasive wheel activities.
• Safe Work Australia – Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice: Controls for manual handling of workpieces and equipment associated with abrasive wheel work.
• Safe Work Australia – Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice: Relevant where grinding and linishing tasks are performed at height or on elevated platforms.
• AS/NZS 4024 Safety of Machinery (series): Principles for safe design and guarding of machinery including fixed and hand-held grinders and linishers.
• AS 1788 Abrasive Wheels: Requirements for the safe use, storage, and handling of abrasive wheels.
• AS/NZS 1337 Eye and Face Protectors for Occupational Applications: Selection and use of eye and face protection for grinding and abrasive wheel tasks.
• AS/NZS 2161 Occupational Protective Gloves: Guidance on appropriate hand protection when handling sharp edges and abrasive tools.
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017