Who needs abrasive wheels training?
Abrasive wheels training is required for anyone who uses, mounts or supervises the use of grinding and cutting wheels. That covers angle grinders and cut-off saws on site as much as bench and pedestal grinders in a workshop.
The Abrasive Wheels Regulations 1970 were repealed and the subject now sits under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER). Regulation 9 requires that anyone using work equipment has received adequate training in its use and the risks involved. HSE guidance HSG17, Safety in the use of abrasive wheels, sets out what that means in practice and is the benchmark an inspector will measure you against.
Why it matters
HSE reports that close to half of abrasive wheel accidents come down to an unsafe system of work or operator error rather than a faulty wheel. A wheel running at speed that bursts releases fragments with enough energy to cause fatal injuries, and incorrect mounting is one of the most common causes.
Which abrasive wheels course do you need?
Three courses cover different roles. The distinction that matters most is whether anyone in the team changes wheels.
Safe use, wheel selection and markings, mounting, guarding, speed limits and inspection, certificated by a recognised awarding body. Choose this where you need independent evidence of competence for a client, an audit, or a tender.
Abrasive Wheels (Non-accredited)
The same core safe-use content as a quicker, lower-cost option. Adequate for meeting the PUWER training duty where no third party is asking to see a certificate from a named awarding body.
Abrasive Wheel Mounter’s Course
Selection, inspection, mounting and testing of wheels on handheld and bench or pedestal grinders. Required for anyone who fits or changes a wheel, which is a narrower and more technical competence than operating one.
A common gap: operators get trained thoroughly and nobody is left competent to check that a wheel has been mounted correctly. If your team changes its own wheels, someone needs the mounter’s course as well as the operator training.
What the training covers
- Wheel types, construction and the marking system under BS EN 12413 and BS ISO 525
- Reading a wheel for abrasive type, grit size, grade, structure and bond
- Maximum operating speed and checking it against the machine spindle speed
- Safe storage, handling and transport, and why wheels are damaged before they are ever fitted
- Inspection before mounting, including the ring test on vitrified wheels
- Flanges, blotters, bushes and nuts, and what each one is actually for
- Correct mounting, balancing and dressing
- Guarding, work rest adjustment and the run-up procedure after fitting
- Safe operation of handheld, bench and pedestal machines
- PPE, and the additional hazards of dust, vibration and noise
Who should attend
- Workshop operators and technicians
- Anyone who mounts or changes abrasive wheels
- Construction and maintenance workers using angle grinders and cut-off saws
- Manufacturing and engineering staff, fabricators and welders
- Supervisors and team leaders overseeing abrasive wheel work
- Health and safety officers responsible for PUWER compliance
Supervisors do not need to mount wheels themselves, but they do need enough technical knowledge to spot a non-compliant set-up. Contractors working on your site fall within your duty as the host employer.
The risks that outlast the job
A bursting wheel is the obvious hazard and it is what abrasive wheels training concentrates on. The health risks from routine grinding build up quietly and are covered by separate regulations, so they need separate training.
| Risk | Why grinding creates it |
|---|---|
| Hand-arm vibration | Angle grinders are among the highest-vibration tools in regular use. Exposure is cumulative and the damage is permanent, which is why the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 set exposure limits. |
| Silica dust | Cutting concrete, stone, brick or mortar releases respirable crystalline silica. Dry cutting without water suppression or extraction produces exposures many times the workplace exposure limit. |
| Noise | Grinding and cutting routinely exceed the levels at which the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 require action, and hearing loss is irreversible. |
Abrasive wheels training questions
Is abrasive wheels training a legal requirement?
Training itself is. PUWER Regulation 9 requires anyone using work equipment to have adequate training in its use and the risks involved, and HSG17 sets the expected standard for abrasive wheels specifically. There is no legally mandated course or certificate, but you must be able to demonstrate competence, and a certificate is the simplest way to do it.
How often should abrasive wheels training be refreshed?
There is no statutory interval. A three-year refresher cycle is the widely used industry convention. Refresh sooner after an incident or near miss, when new equipment or wheel types are introduced, or where someone uses wheels only occasionally and is out of practice.
What happened to the Abrasive Wheels Regulations 1970?
They were repealed. Abrasive wheels are now covered by PUWER 1998 as work equipment, supported by HSG17. If a policy or risk assessment still cites the 1970 Regulations, it is out of date and worth reviewing.
Do I need the accredited course or is non-accredited enough?
Either can satisfy the PUWER training duty. The question is who needs to see the evidence. If a principal contractor, client or auditor asks for certification from a recognised awarding body, take the accredited course. For internal competence records, the non-accredited option covers the same ground for less.
Does an angle grinder count as an abrasive wheel?
Yes. Handheld grinders and cut-off saws are within scope, and they account for a large share of injuries because they are used outside a workshop, often at awkward angles and with the guard adjusted or removed. Training covers portable machines alongside bench and pedestal grinders.
Can abrasive wheels training be done online?
Online courses cover the knowledge element well: wheel types, markings, speeds, guarding and the legal framework. HSE is clear that practical training in mounting and use has no substitute, so anyone who changes wheels should have hands-on assessment rather than e-learning alone.
Related training
- PUWER Awareness for Work Equipment Users — the wider duty abrasive wheels sit under
- PUWER Compliance Management for Duty Holders — for those responsible across a site or fleet
- Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) — exposure limits and health surveillance
- Silica Dust Awareness — for anyone cutting concrete, stone or masonry
- Noise Awareness — action levels and hearing protection
- COSHH Training — assessing and controlling dust and fume exposure
- PPE Training — selection, fit and limitations
- LEV Management for Duty Holders — on-tool extraction and its maintenance
Not sure which course suits your team?
Call 0808 1966 830 or make an enquiry and we will match you to a provider running the right course near you.
This page is general guidance and does not replace HSE guidance HSG17 or your own risk assessment.