Schools’ Health and Safety Handbook
Section9.3:Code of Practice for Secondary Design and Technology
Risk Assessment WW05: Belt Sanding Machine
February 2007
Risk Assessment WW05: Belt Sanding Machine
ESTABLISHMENT
DEPARTMENT
SCHOOLS TEACHING SECONDARY DESIGN AND
TECHNOLOGY
DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY
WORK ACTIVITY
USE OF BELT SANDING MACHINE
HAZARDS

WHO MIGHT BE
HARMED?
(EMPLOYEES)
The work piece may become jammed in the sanding
machine.
 Hands or clothing may become entangled with the
sanding belt.
 Any electrical faults may cause electric shock
 Dust may be inhaled when using the machine.
 Accidental starting of the machine may be hazardous.
 The sanding belt may break up and lash out went the
machine is operating.
 Hands may come into contact with the abrasive surface
causing injury
Design and Technology Teachers
Design and Technology Teaching Assistants
Design and Technology Technical Assistants
WHO MIGHT BE
HARMED?
(NONEMPLOYEES)
Children
Visitors
Cleaning Contractors,
Maintenance Contractors,
IS ANYONE AT
SPECIAL RISK?
Persons working alone
Inexperienced teachers
Persons who have not been trained and certificated within the
past five years.
Persons who use the equipment infrequently
Unauthorised users, for example, site manager, caretakers
Switchgear
 The machine must be provided with a means of isolation
using a fused switch-disconnector on or adjacent to the
machine
 The fused switch-disconnector must be controlled by a
starter incorporating overload protection and no-volt
release
 It must be possible to lock the machine off when it is not in
use to prevent unauthorised use.
 A locking device may be incorporated in the machine.
 The key must not be left in the lock when the machine is
unattended.
RISK CONTROL
MEASURES
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Schools’ Health and Safety Handbook
Section9.3:Code of Practice for Secondary Design and Technology
Risk Assessment WW05: Belt Sanding Machine
February 2007
Emergency Stop
 A conveniently positioned red mushroom headed
emergency stop, on a yellow background, switch or other
suitable control device that can bring the machine to rest
within 10 seconds
 It should be labelled with an emergency stop sign
Cabling
 All cabling should be armoured to protect it from damage.
Space and Floor Area
 The DfES Guidance should be followed.
 There should be sufficient space around the machine to
prevent the operator being knocked by passers by.
 This area should be clearly marked with yellow tape or
paint.
 The machine must be secured to the floor.
 Bench mounted machines must be secured to the bench.
 The floor of the work area must be level and non-slip.
 The floor must be kept free of loose material such as
wood shavings and saw dust which could make it slippery.
 The floor should be cleaned at least once daily using a
cleaning technique which minimises the spread of wood
dust such as an industrial vacuum cleaner fitted with a
fine dust filter of mesh size not greater than 0.1 microns.
Guarding
 The sanding machine must be provided with fixed guards,
which can be removed only with the use of a tool, or
alternatively with interlocked guards that will bring the
machine to rest within 10 seconds, if activated.
 The belt may break up and lash out when in use so
guards should be used to prevent it causing injury
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
 Eye protection should be worn when using the machine.
 A “wear eye protection” sign should be displayed on or
near the machine.
 It should be stored near the machine.
 It must be cleaned maintained and replaced when
necessary.
 A protective workshop coat or apron should be worn
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Schools’ Health and Safety Handbook
Section9.3:Code of Practice for Secondary Design and Technology
Risk Assessment WW05: Belt Sanding Machine
February 2007
Hair and Clothing
 Substantial, non-slip, flat healed shoes which cover the
whole of the foot, should be worn when using this
equipment. Trainers do not give adequate protection
 Loose clothing must be secured and long hair tied back.
 Dangling jewellery should not be worn.
 Gloves or bandages should not be worn.
Use of Belt Sanding Machine
 The abrasive belt should be narrower than the belt
support plate and pulleys, to protect the user from the belt
edges.
 It is essential that belts are set in the correct direction of
rotation.
 The sanding table on vertical sanding machines must be
of rigid metal construction.
 The gap between the table and the belt should be
sufficient to clear the debris but for small enough to
ensure sufficient support for the timber
 When carrying out angled sanding, it should only be
possible to tilt the table downwards away from the belt, so
as to avoid jamming timber between the table, and the
belt.
 On horizontal sanding machines the fence should be
correctly set close to the abrasive surface.
 The tracking should be checked by rotating the belt first,
by hand, before switching on the machine.
 The teacher or person responsible should check the
setting of the machine before it is used
Control of Wood Dusts
 A risk assessment must be carried out to evaluate the
risks to health from inhalation of wood dusts when using
machine.
 Adequate dust extraction, interlocked with the machine,
must be provided if the risk assessment indicates it is
needed.
 The dust extraction must be inspected annually by a
competent person and the records must be kept for at
least five years
 Records of the testing and examination of dust extraction
equipment must be kept to at least five years
 The dust extraction equipment must be emptied regularly
to maximise its efficiency
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Schools’ Health and Safety Handbook
Section9.3:Code of Practice for Secondary Design and Technology
Risk Assessment WW05: Belt Sanding Machine
February 2007
Safety Rules

Safety rules for the use of the machine should be
displayed near the machine where they can easily be
referred to
Servicing and Maintenance
 The belt sanding machine must be included in a planned
programme of servicing and maintenance which should
include electrical safety checks.
 Records of servicing and maintenance must be kept.
Manufacturer’s Instructions
 A copy of the manufacturer’s instruction book should be
kept by the belt sanding machine and another copy in the
design and technology office.
FURTHER ACTION
REQUIRED TO
CONTROL RISK
ACTION BY
PERSON
ACTION BY DATE
DATE REVISION
OF ASSESSMENT
DUE
ASSESSED BY
DATE
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