WHY THE 'DAILY GRIND' CAN BE DEADLY

One of the most common machines used in workplaces nationwide is the abrasive wheel grinder. Because grinders are used on a daily basis, many workers may become complacent about their hazards. If these machines and their grinding wheels are used improperly, the 'daily grind' can be a painful and even lethal experience.

"People often assume that grinding wheels are tough and unbreakable, like rocks," said Benjamin W. Mangan, founder and president of MANCOMM (Davenport, IA) , a company that develops and publishes regulatory compliance products. "But improper use of a grinding wheel, or the use of one that is defective or damaged, can cause the wheel to break up during use. And those flying fragments can injure or even kill anyone standing nearby."

To help America's workers stay safe, MANCOMM has developed and released the Grinder Safety Training CD. This product is the first in a new MANCOMM safety training series called the Safety Interactive Training Experience (SITE). Products in the SITE Series use multimedia presentations which actively engage trainees in user-based interactions.

An OSHA examination of 27 grinder wheel accidents in an eight-year period revealed that 26 percent of those accidents resulted in employee deaths. "That OSHA study reveals the tragic outcomes that abrasive wheel grinder accidents can create," Mangan said. "But with the right training, all of those horrible injuries and deaths could have been easily avoided."

MANCOMM's Grinder Safety Training CD can help workers to improve safety and minimize risk by focusing on a personal protection system for pedestal and bench grinders. Training information on the CD covers the following topics:

– Personal Protective Equipment
– Grinder and Grinding Wheel RPM Compatibility
– Performing Ring Tests
– Grinding Wheel Installation
– Guard Adjustments
– Aluminum Oxide Grinding Wheels

"Our goal is to help prevent injuries and fatalities by providing information in a format the viewer will enjoy," Mangan said. "OSHA provides the most highly regarded safety information in the world, and we present that information in ways the worker will remember and use."

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