Safety

Angle Grinder Safety Basics

Getting to Know Your Machine

Your angle grinder comes equipped with a moveable guard and a side handle, which can be attached to either side. Both are critical for proper grinding and safety.

Angle grinder illustration highlighting the different pieces that make up the machine

PPE

Before using any abrasive product, ensure that all required personal protective equipment such as eye, face, hearing, and respiratory protection; gloves; aprons; arm guards; and safety shoes are worn.

Operator using a Norton Quantum3 depressed center wheel on an angle grinder

Speed

Make sure the abrasive wheel's maximum operating speed is at or above the angle grinder's maximum operating speed. Exceeding the maximum operating speed of an abrasive wheel is extremely dangerous. Excessive speed can cause an abrasive wheel to suddenly shatter!

In the graphic below, see an example of where to locate the maximum speed on the wheel and on the machine label of the angle grinder.

Graphic showing where to find the max speed on the abrasive wheel and on the machine label of the angle grinder

Guards and Side Handles

Guards and side handles are both critical to proper angle grinder safety and operation.

All abrasive wheels are breakable, and guards can prevent serious injury by containing the abrasive pieces in the event of a breakage. Guards also protect the operator by deflecting the spark stream while in use. Guards must be positioned between the operator and the wheel to provide this protection.

Side handles provide a means of maintaining secure control of the tool at all times. Operation of the tool without the side handle can result in loss of control and is hazardous.

Unsafe operation of an angle grinder with no guard in place, no side handle in use, and the operator is not wearing gloves
Unsafe operation of an angle grinder - while the guard is in place, there is no side handle in use and the operator is not wearing gloves
Unsafe operation of an angle grinder as the operator is not wearing gloves
Safe operation of an angle grinder with guard in place, side handle in use, and PPE worn

Mounting

Only products designed for use on an angle grinder should be used. Creativity can lead to catastrophe! Using products not designed for angle grinders can lead to product breakage and injury. Additionally, angle grinder guards to do not offer protection for other products.

Illustration showing improper and unsafe use of a bench grinding wheel on an angle grinder
Illustration showing improper and unsafe use of an abrasive cup wheel on an angle grinder without the proper guarding
Illustration showing improper and unsafe use of two wheels mounted on the same arbor on an angle grinder
Illustration showing the proper and safe mounting of a single wheel on the arbor of an angle grindern angle grinder

Operation

Wheels can be damaged during shipping or storage. To check for damage, abrasive wheels must be run at operating speed with the wheel guard in place and in a protected enclosure (i.e. a steel drum) for at least one minute before applying work.

Operator performing a barrel test using a Norton Quantum3 depressed center wheel on an angle grinder

Need More Information?

For additional information on this topic or if you need any other abrasive safety information, please review the Norton Product Safety page, ANSI, OSHA, and all literature provided by the abrasive wheel and machine manufacturer. You may contact the Saint-Gobain Product Safety Department at (508) 795-2317, or contact your Saint-Gobain Abrasives representative with any safety related questions.