Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Abrasive Wheels) Regulations
[1 January 1976]
(Format changes—E.R. 1 of 2021)
These regulations may be cited as the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Abrasive Wheels) Regulations.
In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires—
abrasive wheel (砂輪) means—(a)a wheel, cylinder, disc or cone which consists wholly or partly of abrasive particles held together by mineral, metallic or organic bonds whether natural or artificial;(b)a—(i)mounted wheel or point; or(ii)wheel or disc, having separate segments of abrasive material;(c)a wheel or disc—(i)made of metal, wood or rubber; and(ii)having any surface consisting wholly or partly of abrasive material; and(d)a wheel, disc or saw to any surface of which, in each case, is attached a rim or segments consisting of diamond abrasive particles,and which is, or is intended to be, power driven and which is for use in any grinding or cutting operation; employee (僱員) means a person who in an industrial undertaking is employed in using any abrasive wheel in any grinding or cutting operation; mounted wheel or point (嵌固輪子或端點) means a wheel or point consisting in either case of abrasive particles held together by mineral, metallic or organic bonds whether natural or artificial and securely and permanently mounted on the end of a mandrel or quill; overhang (外露軸段), in relation to a mounted wheel or point, means that part of the mandrel or quill which is exposed between the collet in which the mandrel or quill is held and the part of the abrasive material nearest to that collet.Subject to regulation 4, these regulations shall apply to any abrasive wheel used for any grinding or cutting operation in any industrial undertaking.
Regulations 5, 6, 9(a) and (b) and 10 shall not apply to any abrasive wheel manufactured of metal, wood or rubber and having any surface consisting wholly or partly of abrasive material.
Regulations 9(a) and (b) and 10 shall not apply to any abrasive wheel which consists wholly of abrasive particles held together by natural bonds.
Regulation 5 shall not apply to any abrasive wheel having separate segments of abrasive material.
Regulations 5, 6, 8(1), 9 and 10 shall not apply to any abrasive wheel which—
does not exceed 235 millimetres in diameter;
is manufactured of rubber; and
has any surface consisting wholly or partly of abrasive material,
when that abrasive wheel is used in a portable machine.
Regulations 6, 8(1), 9 and 10 shall not apply to any abrasive wheel when it is used for the grinding of glass.
Regulations 5, 6 and 10 shall not apply to any wheel, disc or saw to any surface of which, in each case, is attached a rim or segments consisting of diamond abrasive particles.
No abrasive wheel having a diameter of more than 55 millimetres shall be taken into use in any industrial undertaking for the first time in that industrial undertaking after the coming into operation of these regulations unless the abrasive wheel or its washer is clearly marked, in English or Chinese, with the maximum permissible speed in revolutions per minute specified by the manufacturer of that wheel.
No abrasive wheel having a diameter of 55 millimetres or less shall be taken into use in any industrial undertaking for the first time in that industrial undertaking after the coming into operation of these regulations unless there is kept permanently fixed in the room in which grinding is ordinarily carried out with that wheel a notice, in English and Chinese, stating the maximum permissible speed in revolutions per minute specified by the manufacturer for that abrasive wheel or for abrasive wheels of the class to which that abrasive wheel belongs and, in the case of mounted wheels and points, the overhang permissible at that speed:Provided that when grinding with such an abrasive wheel is not ordinarily carried out in any one room the notice shall be kept posted at a place and in a position where it may easily be read by employees employed in grinding with that abrasive wheel.
No abrasive wheel shall be operated at a speed in excess of the maximum permissible speed in revolutions per minute specified under this regulation for that wheel:Provided that where the diameter of an abrasive wheel has been reduced its said maximum permissible speed may be increased to that speed which bears the same proportion to the said maximum permissible speed as the original diameter of the abrasive wheel bears to its reduced diameter.
There shall be securely affixed to every power driven machine having any spindle on which an abrasive wheel is, or is intended to be, mounted a notice, in English and Chinese, specifying—
in the case of each such spindle (other than a spindle to which subparagraph (b) or (c) applies), its maximum working speed;
in the case of any such spindle for which there are provided arrangements for operating the spindle at more than one specific working speed, each specific speed; and
in the case of any such spindle for which there are provided arrangements for operating the spindle at an infinite number of working speeds within a specified range, the maximum and minimum working speeds of the spindle.
No spindle shall, while an abrasive wheel is mounted on it, be operated at a speed in excess of the maximum working speed specified under this regulation for that spindle.
The proprietor of an industrial undertaking shall, when so required by an occupational safety officer, provide the occupational safety officer with all such facilities and information as are necessary to enable him to determine the working speed of any spindle, shaft, pulley or other appliance which is used to operate an abrasive wheel. (32 of 2000 s. 48)
The speed of every air driven spindle on which an abrasive wheel is mounted shall be controlled by a governor or other device so that the speed of the spindle does not at any time exceed the maximum working speed specified for that spindle in accordance with paragraph (1).
Every governor and other device used for controlling the speed of an air driven spindle on which an abrasive wheel is mounted shall be properly maintained.
Every abrasive wheel shall be properly mounted.
An abrasive wheel shall not be mounted except by a person who—
has been appointed in writing for that purpose by the proprietor of an industrial undertaking; and
is, by reason of training and practical experience, competent to perform that operation.
Except as provided in paragraph (2), a guard shall be provided and kept in position at every abrasive wheel in motion.
Paragraph (1) shall not apply to an abrasive wheel where, by reason of the work being done, or of the work which is ordinarily done (or, in the case of a new wheel, is intended ordinarily to be done), or the nature of the wheel, the use of a guard is impracticable.
Every guard provided in pursuance of these regulations shall—
so far as is reasonably practicable, be of such design and construction as to contain every part of the abrasive wheel in the event of fracture of the abrasive wheel or any part thereof occurring while the abrasive wheel is in motion;
be properly maintained and so secured as to prevent its displacement in the event of fracture; and
enclose the whole of the abrasive wheel except such part as is necessarily exposed for the purpose of work being done at that abrasive wheel or, where a guard which is not adjustable is used, for the purpose of the work which is ordinarily done thereat (or, in the case of a new abrasive wheel, is intended ordinarily to be done thereat).
Where the work which is ordinarily done (or, in the case of a new abrasive wheel, is intended ordinarily to be done) at any abrasive wheel requires that the exposed area of the wheel shall exceed 180 degrees measured at the centre of the wheel then, where practicable, the wheel shall be tapered from its centre towards its periphery by at least 6 per cent on each side and shall be mounted between suitable protection flanges.
Protection flanges between which any abrasive wheel is mounted in accordance with paragraph (1) shall be of substantial construction and properly maintained and shall have the same degree of taper as the wheel and shall—
in the case of a wheel of 300 millimetres or less in diameter, be of a diameter equal to at least half the diameter of the wheel;
in the case of a wheel of more than 300 millimetres but not exceeding 750 millimetres in diameter, be of a diameter equal to at least the diameter of the wheel less 150 millimetres; and
in the case of a wheel of more than 750 millimetres in diameter, be of a diameter equal to at least the diameter of the wheel less 200 millimetres.
All practicable steps shall be taken to ensure that any abrasive wheel used is suitable for the work for which it is used to the extent necessary to reduce the risk of injury to employees.
No abrasive wheel shall be used in a machine unless the machine is provided with an efficient device for starting and cutting off the power to the machine and the control of the device shall be in such a position and of such design and construction as to be readily and conveniently operated by the person operating the machine.
Where at an abrasive wheel there is a rest for supporting a workpiece, that rest shall at all times while the wheel is in motion be properly secured and adjusted so as to be as close as practicable to the exposed part of the abrasive wheel.
Every rest shall be of substantial construction and properly maintained.
A warning notice, in English and Chinese and in a form approved by the Commissioner, concerning the dangers arising from the use of abrasive wheels and the precautions to be observed shall be affixed in every room in which grinding or cutting by means of abrasive wheels is ordinarily carried out, or, where such grinding or cutting is not ordinarily carried out in a room, at a place and in such a position where it may be easily read by employees.
The floor immediately surrounding every fixed machine on which an abrasive wheel is, or is intended to be, mounted shall be maintained in good and even condition and shall, so far as practicable, be kept clear of loose material and prevented from becoming slippery.
All reasonably practicable steps shall be taken to ensure that the floor of any room or place in which any portable machine on which an abrasive wheel is mounted is in good and even condition, is kept clear of loose material and is prevented from becoming slippery.
No employee shall wilfully misuse or remove any guard, or wilfully misuse any protection flange, machine control, governor or other device provided in pursuance of these regulations or any rest for a workpiece.
Every employee shall make full and proper use of guards, protection flanges, machine controls, governors and other devices provided in pursuance of these regulations and of rests for workpieces and if he discovers any defect in the same shall forthwith report such defect to the proprietor.
The proprietor of any industrial undertaking in respect of which any of the provisions of regulation 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15 are contravened shall be guilty of an offence.
A proprietor who is convicted of an offence under paragraph (1)—
in respect of a contravention of regulation 5(1) or (2) or 6(1) is liable to a fine at level 4;
in respect of a contravention of regulation 5(3), 6(2), (3), (4) or (5), 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 15 is liable to a fine at level 6; or
in respect of a contravention of regulation 14 is liable to a fine at level 4. (5 of 2023 s. 35)
Any employee who contravenes any of the provisions of regulation 16 commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 5. (5 of 2023 s. 35)