Abrasive Wheels: PUWER Regulation 9 Training Requirements
Abrasive wheels — cutting discs, grinding wheels and similar equipment used on angle grinders, bench grinders and cut-off saws — carry a well-documented history of serious injury from wheel disintegration, kickback and incorrect mounting. While the standalone Abrasive Wheels Regulations 1970 were revoked, their substance now sits within Regulation 9 of PUWER 1998, which requires that use of equipment involving specific risk (which abrasive wheels clearly present) is restricted to people who have received adequate training for the purposes of health and safety. HSE guidance (including the withdrawn but still practically referenced HSG17) continues to inform what 'adequate training' looks like for mounting, inspecting and safely using abrasive wheels.
Duties touching plant training & competence
- Anyone mounting or changing an abrasive wheel needs specific training in correct wheel selection, inspection and mounting technique, not just general tool familiarity
- Operators need training in safe use, including stance, guard positioning and correct feed pressure to avoid kickback
- Training should distinguish between 'permitted to use with a wheel already fitted' and 'permitted to change or mount wheels' — these are different competence levels
- Refresher training is good practice where use is infrequent, since skill and awareness of correct mounting technique can fade
What it requires
- Use of equipment presenting specific risk, including abrasive wheels, must be restricted to people designated to use it (PUWER Regulation 8)
- Those designated must receive adequate training covering correct wheel selection, safe mounting, speed matching and inspection before use (Regulation 9)
- Wheels must be visually inspected and ring-tested (where appropriate) before mounting to check for damage or defects
- Machine guarding and maximum operating speed must match the wheel's rated speed, and never be exceeded
- Untrained operators must be excluded from changing or mounting wheels, even if they're permitted to use the machine with a wheel already fitted
Who it applies to
This applies to any workplace using abrasive wheels — construction sites cutting steel or masonry, plant maintenance workshops, fabrication yards and farm workshops across Aberdeenshire. It applies regardless of how occasional the use; a wheel used once a month still requires a trained, competent person.
What inspectors & client auditors look for
- Whether staff mounting or changing wheels can demonstrate specific training, not just general familiarity with the tool
- Whether wheels are visually inspected before mounting and any damaged wheels are discarded rather than used
- Whether machine guards are correctly fitted and not removed or bypassed
- Whether maximum wheel speed matches the machine's operating speed
Courses that map to PUWER reg. 9
FAQs
Were the Abrasive Wheels Regulations 1970 replaced?
Yes — they were revoked when PUWER 1998 came into force, but the practical training and competence expectations they set out were absorbed into PUWER Regulations 8 and 9, so the substance of the requirement remains.
Does every angle grinder user need abrasive wheel training?
Anyone using a machine fitted with an abrasive wheel needs adequate training in its safe use; a higher level of specific training is expected for anyone who mounts or changes wheels rather than only operating a pre-fitted one.
What's a ring test and is it still required?
A ring test is a simple check (tapping a wheel and listening for a clear ring, rather than a dull thud, to detect cracks) recommended as good practice before mounting certain wheel types, alongside a visual inspection.
How often should abrasive wheel training be refreshed?
There's no fixed statutory interval, but given how infrequently many operators change wheels, periodic refreshers are good practice to keep mounting competence current.
This page provides general guidance for site managers and duty holders and does not constitute legal advice. Always refer to the current legislation, associated Approved Codes of Practice and HSE guidance, or seek professional legal advice for your specific circumstances.
Need training that maps to PUWER reg. 9?
Call Chris directly or request a quote — most bookings across Aberdeenshire mobilise inside a week.