Grinding stone incident

  • Safety Flash
  • Published on 1 July 2001
  • Generated on 12 July 2025
  • IMCA SF 07/01
  • 1 minute read

We have received information of an incident involving a cup grinding stone.

What happened?

In this incident, the cup stone exploded. However, the findings are considered applicable to any type of abrasive wheel.

In the incident, a pipe welder was using a pneumatic grinder to bevel the end of a 3″ pipe when the grinding stone exploded, striking the welder on his shoulder.

The investigation revealed that the guard used on the grind was not the correct one for a cup stone and that the flange was not the correct size for the stone.

The following common errors were identified in the use of grinding stones:

  1. Use of flanges of uneven or too small diameter.
  2. Use of washers instead of flanges.
  3. Flanges without proper clearance or relief.
  4. Excessive tightening, causing flanges to bend.
  5. Failure to clean all dirt and foreign material from sides of wheels and flanges.
  6. Forcing a wheel onto an arbour where fit is tight.
  7. Use of any loose washers or bushings to try to make a wheel fit a machine for which it is not intended.
  8. Failure to use blotters on wheels.

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