Three abrasive discs, with a rectangle containing the text 'SAFETY BUILT IN'.

Abrasives health and safety

View the abrasive safety assessment guide

Be aware of the workplace hazards your employees face on a daily basis

Help protect your employees from long-term workplace health and safety hazards and learn how you can take action to help deliver safer and more protective workplace equipment. Using abrasive tools and equipment can be dangerous as it involves tasks such as grinding, cutting, weld removal, polishing and finishing on different materials from metal to fibre reinforced composites. Every company should complete a thorough risk assessment to understand and identify potential abrasive risks and define actions to mitigate them.

Take control of abrasive hazards — be aware of the hierarchy of controls

More effective

Less effective

1. Modify tasks or workspaces to remove hazards

Elimination

2. Replace hazardous material, equipment, or activities with less hazardous ones

Substitution

3. Modify tools or equipment to minimize exposure to hazards

Engineering controls

4. Introduce working practices and procedures that remove or lessen risks

Administrative controls

5. Protect workers with suitable personal protective equipment (PPE)

PPE

More effective

1. Modify tasks or workspaces to remove hazards

2. Replace hazardous material, equipment, or activities with less hazardous ones

3. Modify tools or equipment to minimize exposure to hazards

4. Introduce working practices and procedures that remove or lessen risks

5. Protect workers with suitable personal protective equipment (PPE)

Less effective

More effective

1. Modify tasks or workspaces to remove hazards

2. Replace hazardous material, equipment, or activities with less hazardous ones

3. Modify tools or equipment to minimize exposure to hazards

4. Introduce working practices and procedures that remove or lessen risks

5. Protect workers with suitable personal protective equipment (PPE)

Less effective

Abrasive hazards

Airborne particles

Inherent in most abrasive processes, the composition, distribution and quality of the particle hazards depends on the workplace and properties of the abrasive product being used.
Hand-arm vibration

Associated with tasks that require excessive bending of the wrists or time on tool.
Injury

Fixed or hand-held abrasive equipment such as grinding wheels create a hazard if they are incorrectly used or if the equipment is damaged.
Noise

Normally defined as unwanted sound and one of the most common health hazards, noise is energy transmitted by pressure variations.

A metalworker grinding a piece of metal.

See for yourself how 3M Abrasives can help you mitigate hazards

Book a demo of 3M abrasives Ask an expert for more info

Book a demo of 3M Abrasives

See for yourself how 3M Abrasives can help you mitigate hazards in your work place, keeping you and your operators safe.

All fields are required unless indicated optional.

First name
Last name
Email
Phone numberPlease enter your 10-digit phone number. Numbers only (5555555555).
Job title
Company
How many abrasive products do you use in a week? Less than 10
10-25
26 - 40
More than 40
Company street address
City
Province
Postal code
Message — Optional

3M reserves the right to discontinue or terminate this offer at any time. 3M reserves the right to provide demos 3M Abrasives to those who complete the web request form and qualify. Available to Canadian residents only. Limit of one sample per person. No purchase necessary. No substitutions, refunds, transfers or cash equivalent payments will be allowed. One demo per person and/or address. Please allow 2-4 weeks for follow up. 3M is not liable for undelivered samples.

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Opt-in: I would like to receive electronic messages, which may include promotions, product information and service offers, from 3M. I understand that I may unsubscribe at any time using the opt-out link provided in every electronic message.

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Send us a message

All fields are required unless indicated optional.

First name
Last name
Email
Phone numberPlease enter your 10-digit phone number. Numbers only (5555555555).
Primary area of interest
Job title
Company
Company street address
City
Province
Postal code
Message — Optional

3M will use the information to respond to your request and in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Opt-in: I would like to receive electronic messages, which may include promotions, product information and service offers, from 3M. I understand that I may unsubscribe at any time using the opt-out link provided in every electronic message.

3M takes your privacy seriously. 3M and its authorized third parties will use the information you provided in accordance with our Privacy Policy to send you communications, which may include promotions, product information and service offers.

Thank you!

Your request has been submitted successfully. A representative will contact you shortly.

Sorry!

We can’t seem to complete your request. Please try again.

Front view of two overlapping 3M™ Cubitron™ II Cut Off Wheels.

Help reduce abrasive risks with 3M™ Cubitron™ II Abrasives

Designed to cut faster and last longer, these abrasives help reduce exposure to dust, noise and vibration.

Learn More

Connect with a metalworking expert.

Abrasives health and safety

Be aware of the workplace hazards your employees face on a daily basis

Take control of abrasive hazards — be aware of the hierarchy of controls

More effective

Less effective

1. Modify tasks or workspaces to remove hazards

Elimination

2. Replace hazardous material, equipment, or activities with less hazardous ones

Substitution

3. Modify tools or equipment to minimize exposure to hazards

Engineering controls

4. Introduce working practices and procedures that remove or lessen risks

Administrative controls

5. Protect workers with suitable personal protective equipment (PPE)

PPE

More effective

Less effective

More effective

Less effective

Abrasive hazards

See for yourself how 3M Abrasives can help you mitigate hazards

Book a demo of 3M Abrasives

Sorry!

Send us a message

Sorry!

Help reduce abrasive risks with 3M™ Cubitron™ II Abrasives