DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS  
DIRECTOR'S OFFICE  
GENERAL INDUSTRY SAFETY STANDARDS  
(By authority conferred on the director of the department of licensing and regulatory  
affairs by sections 16 and 21 of 1974 PA 154, and Executive Reorganization Order Nos.  
1996-2, 2003-1, 2008-4, and 2011-4, MCL 445.2001, 445.2011, 445.2025, and 445.2030)  
PART 11. POLISHING, BUFFING & ABRADING  
R 408.11101 Scope.  
Rule 1101. This part sets forth rules in places of employment for safety in the use of  
buffing and polishing wheels and coated abrasives, including specifications for flanges,  
guards, fixtures, application of compounds, automatic buffing, polishing, storage, direction  
of operation, and speed.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 408.11103 Definitions; A, B.  
Rule 1103. (1) "Abrading" means the process of removing materials by use of abrasives  
or wire wheels.  
(2) "Acorn nut" means a hexagon nut with a rounded enclosed end; see figure 1.  
Figure for 408.11103  
(3) "Buffing wheel" means a wheel which, when used in conjunction with a compound  
and a centrifugal motion, will impart a luster to metal, plastics, or other materials. Buffing  
wheels are of 2 types, as follows:  
(a) Type 1--"full disc buff" means a full circular disc of woven material plied and  
laminated, and generally sewn together.  
(b) Type 2--"bias buff" means a radius of woven material drawn into a clinch ring, which  
then creates a circular wheel of laminated plies, radiating from the clinch ring.  
History: 1979 AC.  
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R 408.11104 Definitions; C to F.  
Rule 1104. (1) "Clinch ring" means a series of hog rings pressed into a circular form  
integrally meshed through the buffing material.  
(2) "Coated abrasive" means abrasive grains bonded to paper, fibre, or cloth, usually  
fabricated in various forms, such as a disc, endless belt, and sheet.  
(3) "Compound" means the abrasive in a bond mixture applied to the buffing wheel or  
part in a cake or liquid form.  
(4) "Flange or end" means disc or plates between which a buff with a metal or fibre center  
is mounted.  
(5) "Fixture" means the support used to hold or guide a part being buffed or polished.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 408.11105 Definitions; O to W.  
Rule 1105. (1) "Off side" means a place above or below the center line of a wheel,  
depending on rotation of the wheel, where a part or compound will be thrust away from  
the operator.  
(2) "Open spindle lathe--hand jack" means a machine on which buffing or polishing  
wheels are mounted and run.  
(3) "Polishing wheel" means a full circular disc of a material, generally a product of the  
loom, compressed felt or sheepskin, that is plied and laminated. Abrasive grain is glued or  
cemented to the periphery and when cured is used to remove fine scratches and  
imperfections.  
(4) "Safety guard" means an enclosure for protection from emission or accidental contact.  
(5) "Wire brush wheel" means a full circular disc of wires held in place by a hub or ring.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 408.11111 Operator personal protection.  
Rule 1111. An operator shall:  
(a) Be provided with and use eye protection, as prescribed in Part 33.Personal Protective  
Equipment, being R 408.13301 et seq. of the Michigan Administrative Code, such as  
goggles or a face shield when polishing, buffing, or abrading.  
(b) Be provided with, at no expense, and use a belly pad or apron when hand buffing.  
(c) Not wear loose clothing.  
History: 1979 AC; 1983 AACS.  
R 408.11115 Guards.  
Rule 1115. (1) A polishing, buffing, or wire brush wheel on a hand jack, automatic  
machine, or coated abrasive machine shall have guards made of a minimum of 16 gauge  
metal or equivalent and of a size and design to cover at least half of the sides of the working  
wheel, and extend at least 1 inch beyond the spindles. See figure 2.  
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(2) An adjustable deflector of at least 16 gauge metal or equal material shall be installed  
and maintained within 1/4 inch of the face of the wheel on all open spindle lathes. See  
figure 2.  
(3) The face opening shall not be any greater in area than actually required for  
performance of the operation.  
(4) In-running nip points of drive and idler rolls, such as found in belt sanding, shall be  
guarded with an enclosure which will include the rolls.  
Figure for 408.11115  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 408.11116 Arbor ends.  
Rule 1116. (1) An arbor end which is not equipped with an acorn nut or equivalent shall  
be guarded.  
(2) A nut shall be fully installed on the spindle, and the nut shall be self-locking with the  
arbor rotation.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 408.11118 Flanges.  
Rule 1118. (1) A flange shall be used with a metal or fibre center bias buff, except where  
the flange is an integral part of the buff.  
(2) A flange shall:  
(a) Be 3/16 inch thick for buff face up to 6 inches wide and 3/8 inch thick for a wider buff  
face.  
(b) Be of a diameter to bear firmly on the clinch ring.  
(c) Be of the same diameter and design of both sides.  
(d) Be made of steel or material of equal strength.  
(3) A flange should be tapered or bell shape instead of flat. See figure 3.  
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Figure for 408.11118  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 408.11119 Rescinded.  
History: 1979 AC; 2013 AACS.  
R 408.11121 Rescinded.  
History: 1979 AC; 2013 AACS.  
R 408.11123 Illumination.  
Rule 1123. (1) Automatic polishing and buffing machinery and equipment shall be located  
with respect to sources of natural light so that light of 25 footcandles intensity will fall on  
the loading and unloading area. When natural light is insufficient to meet this requirement,  
artificial light shall be provided.  
(2) Hand polishing and buffing machinery and equipment shall be located with respect to  
sources of natural light so that light of 30 footcandles intensity will fall on the work. When  
natural light is insufficient to meet this requirement, artificial light shall be provided.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 408.11131 Operations.  
Rule 1131. (1) Buffing or polishing shall be performed on the off side.  
(2) Buffing compound, when applied to a revolving wheel, shall be applied to the off side.  
(3) The wheel speed shall not exceed the manufacturer's recommended revolutions per  
minute.  
(4) Coated abrasives shall be run according to the direction (->) indicated by the  
manufacturer.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 408.11135 Storage of abrasives.  
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Rule 1135. Coated abrasives shall be stored under conditions of temperature and humidity  
to prevent breakage or warpage.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 408.11137 Fire and explosion precautions.  
Rule 1137. Precautions shall be taken to protect against fire and explosion hazards  
involving aluminum, magnesium, titanium, lint, wax, and solvent when polishing, buffing,  
or abrading.  
History: 1979 AC.  
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