1910.215(b): Guards for Abrasive Wheel Grinders
Employers must fit grinding machines with safety guards that cover the abrasive wheel and limit how much of it is exposed. This paragraph sets the maximum guard opening for each machine type, such as 90 degrees for bench and floor stand grinders and 180 degrees for cylindrical grinders, and covers guard options for cup wheels.
Key takeaways
- 1910.215(b) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart O).
- OSHA cited it 1,135 times in the last 3 years, in 1,126 inspections, with $947,533 in current penalties.
- 3 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TN (146), CT (91), NC (78).
- Related part: 1910.215(b)(9) Exposure adjustment (1,113 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.215(b) ("Guarding of abrasive wheel machinery") is one requirement inside 1910.215 Abrasive wheel machinery, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart O). It includes 24 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
(b) Guarding of abrasive wheel machinery — 1,135 citations
(1) Cup wheels. Cup wheels (Types 6 and 11) shall be protected by: 3 citations
(i) Safety guards as specified in paragraphs (b) (1) through (10) of this section;
(ii) Band type guards as specified in paragraph (b)(11) of this section; and
(iii) Special “Revolving Cup Guards” which mount behind the wheel and turn with it. They shall be made of steel or other material with adequate strength and shall enclose the wheel sides upward from the back for one-third of the wheel thickness. The mounting features shall conform with all requirements of this section. It is necessary to maintain clearance between the wheel side and the guard. This clearance shall not exceed one-sixteenth inch.
(2) Guard exposure angles. The maximum exposure angles specified in paragraphs (b) (3) through (8) of this section shall not be exceeded. Visors or other accessory equipment shall not be included as a part of the guard when measuring the guard opening, unless such equipment has strength equal to that of the guard. 1 citations
(3) Bench and floor stands. The angular exposure of the grinding wheel periphery and sides for safety guards used on machines known as bench and floor stands should not exceed 90° or one-fourth of the periphery. This exposure shall begin at a point not more than 65° above the horizontal plane of the wheel spindle. (See Figures O-6 and O-7 and paragraph (b)(9) of this section.) 3 citations
Wherever the nature of the work requires contact with the wheel below the horizontal plane of the spindle, the exposure shall not exceed 125°. (See Figures O-8 and O-9.)
(4) Cylindrical grinders. The maximum angular exposure of the grinding wheel periphery and sides for safety guards used on cylindrical grinding machines shall not exceed 180°. This exposure shall begin at a point not more than 65° above the horizontal plane of the wheel spindle. (See Figures O-10 and O-11 and subparagraph (9) of this paragraph.)
(5) Surface grinders and cutting-off machines. The maximum angular exposure of the grinding wheel periphery and sides for safety guards used on cutting-off machines and on surface grinding machines which employ the wheel periphery shall not exceed 150°. This exposure shall begin at a point not less than 15° below the horizontal plane of the wheel spindle. (See Figures O-12 and O-13) Open (b)(5) 12 citations
(6) Swing frame grinders. The maximum angular exposure of the grinding wheel periphery and sides for safety guards used on machines known as swing frame grinding machines shall not exceed 180°, and the top half of the wheel shall be enclosed at all times. (See Figures O-14 and O-15.) 1 citations
(7) Automatic snagging machines. The maximum angular exposure of the grinding wheel periphery and sides for safety guards used on grinders known as automatic snagging machines shall not exceed 180° and the top half of the wheel shall be enclosed at all times. (See Figures O-14 and O-15.) 1 citations
(8) Top grinding. Where the work is applied to the wheel above the horizontal centerline, the exposure of the grinding wheel periphery shall be as small as possible and shall not exceed 60°. (See Figures O-16 and O-17.)
(9) Exposure adjustment. Safety guards of the types described in subparagraphs (3) and (4) of this paragraph, where the operator stands in front of the opening, shall be constructed so that the peripheral protecting member can be adjusted to the constantly decreasing diameter of the wheel. The maximum angular exposure above the horizontal plane of the wheel spindle as specified in paragraphs (b) (3) and (4) of this section shall never be exceeded, and the distance between the wheel periphery and the adjustable tongue or the end of the peripheral member at the top shall never exceed one-fourth inch. (See Figures O-18, O-19, O-20, O-21, O-22, and O-23.) Open (b)(9) 1,113 citations
(10) Material requirements and minimum dimensions. 1 citations
(i) See Figures O-36 and O-37 and Table O-9 for minimum basic thickness of peripheral and side members for various types of safety guards and classes of service.
(ii) If operating speed does not exceed 8,000 surface feet per minute cast iron safety guards, malleable iron guards or other guards as described in paragraph (b)(10)(iii) of this section shall be used.
(iii) Cast steel, or structural steel, safety guards as specified in Figures O-36 and O-37 and Table O-9 shall be used where operating speeds of wheels are faster than 8,000 surface feet per minute up to a maximum of 16,000 surface feet per minute.
(iv) For cutting-off wheels 16 inches diameter and smaller and where speed does not exceed 16,000 surface feet per minute, cast iron or malleable iron safety guards as specified in Figures O-36 and O-37, and in Table O-9 shall be used. 1 citations
correct
Showing adjustable tongue giving required angular protection for all sizes of wheel used.
correct
Showing movable guard with opening small enough to give required protection for smallest size wheel used.
incorrect
Showing movable guard with size of opening correct for full size wheel but too large for smaller wheels.
(v) For cutting-off wheels larger than 16 inches diameter and where speed does not exceed 14,200 surface feet per minute, safety guards as specified in Figures O-27 and O-28, and in Table O-1 shall be used.
(vi) For thread grinding wheels not exceeding 1 inch in thickness cast iron or malleable iron safety guards as specified in Figures O-36 and O-37, and in Table O-9 shall be used.
(11) Band type guards—general specifications. Band type guards shall conform to the following general specifications:
(i) The bands shall be of steel plate or other material of equal or greater strength. They shall be continuous, the ends being either riveted, bolted, or welded together in such a manner as to leave the inside free from projections.
(ii) The inside diameter of the band shall not be more than 1 inch larger than the outside diameter of the wheel, and shall be mounted as nearly concentric with the wheel as practicable.
(iii) The band shall be of sufficient width and its position kept so adjusted that at no time will the wheel protrude beyond the edge of the band a distance greater than that indicated in Figure O-29 and in Table O-2 or the wall thickness (W), whichever is smaller.
(12) Guard design specifications. Abrasive wheel machinery guards shall meet the design specifications of the American National Standard Safety Code for the Use, Care, and Protection of Abrasive Wheels, ANSI B7.1-1970, which is incorporated by reference as specified in § 1910.6. This requirement shall not apply to natural sandstone wheels or metal, wooden, cloth, or paper discs, having a layer of abrasive on the surface.
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(b).
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 | 78 |
| 2024 | 415 |
| 2025 | 360 |
| 2026 | 282 |
Top states: TN (146), CT (91), NC (78), NJ (62), NY (57)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY | DANVILLE, VA | $15,875 |
| SOCORRO, CITY OF, PARKS DEPARTMENT | SOCORRO, NM | $11,250 |
| DAEHAN SOLUTION NEVADA, LLC. | FERNLEY, NV | $10,046 |
| CENTRAL STATES MARKETING & MANUFACTURING, INC. | MC PHERSON, KS | $9,930 |
| HBD / THERMOID, INC. | CHANUTE, KS | $9,127 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.215(b), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.215(b).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.215(b)(9) Exposure adjustment 1,113 citations
- 1910.215(b)(5) Surface grinders and cutting-off machines 12 citations
Get your crew competent
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Frequently asked questions
How much of a bench grinder wheel may be exposed?
The exposure should not exceed 90 degrees, or one-fourth of the wheel, starting no more than 65 degrees above the horizontal line of the spindle. Where the work requires contact below that line, up to 125 degrees is allowed.
Do visors count as part of the guard opening?
No. Visors and other accessories are not counted as part of the guard unless they are as strong as the guard.
How must cup wheels be guarded?
With safety guards, band type guards, or revolving cup guards that turn with the wheel, with no more than one-sixteenth inch clearance between the wheel side and the guard.
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.