This guidance is issued by the Health and Safety Executive. It was last revised in 1992. This latest revision is part of a major review of guidance by the Health and Safety Executive and follows the introduction of the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 1992 as amended and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.

Following the guidance is not compulsory and you are free to take other action. But if you do follow the guidance you will normally be doing enough to comply with the law. Health and Safety inspectors seek to ensure compliance with the law and may refer to this guidance as illustrating good practice.

The Health and Safety Executive would like to acknowledge the help of Geoff Wheway, the British Abrasives Federation and TASSIA - Training and Safety Specialists in Abrasives in the preparation of this revised guidance