1910.215(a): Abrasive wheel and grinder guarding
Abrasive wheels may be used only on machines with safety guards, with narrow exceptions such as small mounted wheels and internal grinding. Guards must cover the spindle end, nut and flange projections and stay aligned with the wheel, grinders need proper flanges, and on bench (offhand) grinders the work rest must be rigid, adjustable and kept close to the wheel, at most 1/8 inch away.
Key takeaways
- 1910.215(a) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart O).
- OSHA cited it 1,234 times in the last 3 years, in 1,139 inspections, with $1,904,276 in current penalties.
- 3 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TN (115), NY (89), IL (86).
- Related part: 1910.215(a)(4) Work rests (1,052 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.215(a) ("General requirements") is one requirement inside 1910.215 Abrasive wheel machinery, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart O). It includes 10 sub-paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(a) General requirements — 1,234 citations
(1) Machine guarding. Abrasive wheels shall be used only on machines provided with safety guards as defined in the following paragraphs of this section, except: Open (a)(1) 77 citations
(i) Wheels used for internal work while within the work being ground;
(ii) Mounted wheels, used in portable operations, 2 inches and smaller in diameter; and
(iii) Types 16, 17, 18, 18R, and 19 cones, plugs, and threaded hole pot balls where the work offers protection.
(2) Guard design. The safety guard shall cover the spindle end, nut, and flange projections. The safety guard shall be mounted so as to maintain proper alignment with the wheel, and the strength of the fastenings shall exceed the strength of the guard, except: Open (a)(2) 105 citations
(i) Safety guards on all operations where the work provides a suitable measure of protection to the operator, may be so constructed that the spindle end, nut, and outer flange are exposed; and where the nature of the work is such as to entirely cover the side of the wheel, the side covers of the guard may be omitted; and Open (a)(2)(i) 1 citations
(ii) The spindle end, nut, and outer flange may be exposed on machines designed as portable saws.
(3) Flanges. Grinding machines shall be equipped with flanges in accordance with paragraph (c) of this section.
(4) Work rests. On offhand grinding machines, work rests shall be used to support the work. They shall be of rigid construction and designed to be adjustable to compensate for wheel wear. Work rests shall be kept adjusted closely to the wheel with a maximum opening of one-eighth inch to prevent the work from being jammed between the wheel and the rest, which may cause wheel breakage. The work rest shall be securely clamped after each adjustment. The adjustment shall not be made with the wheel in motion. Open (a)(4) 1,052 citations
(5) Excluded machinery. Natural sandstone wheels and metal, wooden, cloth, or paper discs, having a layer of abrasive on the surface are not covered by this section.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.215.
Injuries linked to this rule
3 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.215(a).
At 3:28 p.m. on September 23, 2024, an employee was performing maintenance on a forklift. The employee was attempting to change the oil and filter using floor jacks and blocks. During the task, the floor jack slipped, causing the forklift to fall and crush the…
Full case list with employer, penalty, filters and download is part of OSHA Data (Purple Belt).
Unlock with Purple BeltWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 81 |
| 2024 | 435 |
| 2025 | 433 |
| 2026 | 285 |
Top states: TN (115), NY (89), IL (86), CT (77), NJ (76)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| SMITH-MIDLAND CORPORATION | MIDLAND, VA | $51,100 |
| UNIVERSAL PURE COLD STORAGE, LLC | LINCOLN, NE | $16,550 |
| 317737538 - TAYLORS SAUSAGE INC | CAVE JUNCTION, OR | $13,831 |
| MIDWEST CAN COMPANY, LLC | FRANKLIN PARK, IL | $12,768 |
| JINDAL TUBULAR USA LLC | BAY SAINT LOUIS, MS | $12,676 |
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.215(a), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.215(a)(4) Work rests 1,052 citations
- 1910.215(a)(2) Guard design 105 citations
- 1910.215(a)(1) Machine guarding 77 citations
- 1910.215(a)(2)(i) 1 citations
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Frequently asked questions
How close must the tool rest be on a bench grinder?
Kept adjusted closely to the wheel with a maximum opening of 1/8 inch.
Can a grinder be used without its guard?
Only in the narrow exceptions listed, such as wheels used internally within the work or mounted wheels 2 inches and smaller in portable operations.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.215 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-20
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.