Key facts
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Organisation for the Safety of Abrasives |
| Year of foundation | 2000 |
| Headquarters | Oxfordstrasse 8, 53111 Bonn, Germany |
| Certified manufacturers | 60+ |
| Market share of branded products | ~70% of cutting and grinding tools |
| Basic standards | EN 12413, EN 13236, EN 13743 |
| Sign status | Internationally protected trademark |
| Mission | Abrasive safety – every day, everywhere |
| Geography of members | Europe, Asia, Middle East, America |
These numbers speak for themselves. What started as a group of European manufacturers has grown over a quarter of a century into a global authority on abrasive tool safety.
The history of oSa: why the world needed a single abrasives safety mark
A grinding wheel rotating at 80 m/s, when broken, scatters fragments at a speed of 288 km/h - faster than a Formula 1 car on a straight section of the track. That is why the issue of abrasive tool safety is extremely acute.
Problem: unsafe products on the European market
In the late 1990s, the European abrasives market faced a serious problem. Trade liberalization and globalization of production led to a flood of cheap, uncertified abrasive products flooding European markets. Grinding wheels and cutting discs, produced without proper quality control, were sold at dumping prices and found their buyers.
The danger of such products is difficult to overestimate. A grinding wheel develops a circular speed of up to 80 m/s during operation. When a poor-quality wheel breaks, its fragments fly away at a speed of about 288 km/h. This is a colossal kinetic energy that can cause fatal injuries to the operator and others. Statistics of industrial accidents in the late 1990s recorded an increase in the number of incidents related to poor-quality abrasive tools.
Paradoxically, at that time there was no universal safety mark that applied specifically to abrasive products. The GS mark (Geprüfte Sicherheit) only applies to ready-to-use products, and an abrasive tool is a component that is installed on a machine tool or hand-held machine. The CE marking does not apply to abrasive products, as they are not covered by the EU Machinery Directive. ISO standards certify company management systems, not specific products.
This left a serious gap in consumer protection. The consumer—whether a professional metalworker, construction worker, or auto mechanic—had no reliable guide when choosing a safe abrasive tool. Responsible manufacturers were losing market share to suppliers of cheap and unsafe products. The industry needed a solution.
Key development milestones
In 2000, a group of responsible abrasives manufacturers from several European countries decided to take action. They came together to create an organization with the sole purpose of ensuring the safety of abrasive products on the market. Thus, oSa — the Organisation for the Safety of Abrasives — was founded.
The founders' stated goal was clear and uncompromising: to send "a clear signal against low-quality and unsafe products." The organization did not set itself the task of lobbying the interests of large manufacturers or creating trade barriers. Its mission from day one was focused on the safety of the end user.
The location of the headquarters was chosen in Bonn, a city in the western part of Germany. The choice was not accidental. Bonn is home to the VDS (Verband Deutscher Schleifmittelwerke) - the Association of German Abrasives Manufacturers, one of the oldest and most authoritative industry organizations in the world.
oSa's mission: safety every day, everywhere
The organization's main mission is formulated very clearly: "To make working with cutting and grinding tools safer - every day, everywhere." This formula contains two key elements: consistency ("every day") and universality ("everywhere"). Safety cannot be episodic - it must be ensured every time a tool is used, in every country in the world.
To achieve this mission, oSa performs three main functions:
- Manufacturer audits - checking quality management systems, testing equipment, production processes and product traceability systems
- Consulting manufacturers - assistance in implementing best practices and complying with current standard requirements
- Maintaining the highest standards— preventing lowering the bar for the sake of expanding the number of certified companies
It is fundamentally important to understand that the oSa mark is not just a label that a manufacturer puts on their products after a one-time inspection. Behind the mark is an active system of regular audits, independent product testing and continuous production monitoring. A manufacturer who has been granted the right to use the oSa mark is under the constant supervision of the organization.
The ultimate beneficiaries of this system are workers - metalworkers, builders, car mechanics and all professionals who use abrasive tools on a daily basis. For them, the oSa mark on a grinding wheel or cutting disc means that the product has been comprehensively tested and meets the strictest safety requirements.
Three EN standards — the foundation of oSa safety
The oSa certification system is based on three harmonised European standards developed by the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN). Each of these standards covers a specific category of abrasive tools and sets out specific requirements for their safety, marking and test methods.
EN 12413 — bonded abrasives
EN 12413 is perhaps the most important of the three, as it covers the most widespread and potentially dangerous category of abrasive tools - bonded abrasives. These include grinding wheels, cutting discs, mounted points, segments and other tools in which the abrasive grain is bonded with a bonding material (ceramic, bakelite or other).
The requirements of the standard cover several critical safety parameters. First of all, this is the strength of the product - the ability to withstand centrifugal loads at the operating speed of rotation. The standard establishes a burst speed safety factor of 1.73. This means that the actual speed of destruction of the wheel must be at least 1.73 times higher than the maximum operating speed. For example, if the operating speed of the wheel is 80 m/s, it must withstand a speed of at least 138.4 m/s without breaking.
In addition to strength, EN 12413 regulates requirements for dimensions, tolerances, imbalance and product marking. The standard pays particular attention to the shelf life of bakelite (resin) bonded abrasive tools - the maximum shelf life is 3 years from the date of manufacture.
EN 13236 — superabrasives
The EN 13236 standard applies to tools using superhard abrasive materials - diamond and cubic boron nitride (CBN). These are specialized high-precision tools used in the most demanding industries: aerospace, automotive, electronics.
Diamond and CBN tools operate under extreme loads and require a special approach to safety. The EN 13236 standard sets requirements for abrasive grain size, wear rate, service life and overall product safety.
EN 13743 — coated abrasives
The third standard, EN 13743, covers abrasive tools with a flexible backing designed for a specific operating speed. This category includes flap discs, fibre discs and other products in which the abrasive grain is applied to a flexible backing.
These tools are widely used in angle grinders and are subjected to significant loads at high speeds. The EN 13743 standard sets requirements for the strength of the flexible base, grit size, service life and safety at operating speeds.
| Standard | Scope of application | Product examples | Key requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| EN 12413 | Bonded abrasives | Grinding wheels, cutting discs, cones, segments | Strength, burst speed (coefficient 1.73), marking according to EN ISO 7010, balance, shelf life |
| EN 13236 | Superabrasives | Diamond and CBN tools | Grain size, wear resistance, service life, safety in high-precision machining |
| EN 13743 | Flexible-backed abrasives | Flap discs, fiber discs | Base strength, grain size, service life, resistance to lateral loads |
Together, these three standards cover virtually the entire range of abrasive products used in industry and construction. However, the standards themselves are only requirements on paper. Their practical implementation is ensured through the oSa certification procedure, which includes seven safety criteria.
How oSa certification works — 7 safety criteria
The oSa certification procedure is not a formal “check-the-box” inspection. It is a comprehensive assessment of the manufacturer against seven key criteria, each of which must be fully met.
1. Voluntary commitment of the manufacturer
The first and fundamental criterion is that the manufacturer voluntarily undertakes to comply with the OSA standards. This is not a legal requirement, but a conscious choice of the company. The manufacturer signs a formal commitment to maintain the highest safety standards for its products and to allow all the required inspections to be carried out.
The voluntary nature of this commitment is a key point. It means that certified manufacturers are motivated from the start to ensure safety, and not just formally comply with imposed requirements. This creates a culture of safety, not a culture of formal compliance.
2. In-house testing facilities
The second criterion requires the manufacturer to have its own testing facilities. This means having certified equipment to conduct all the necessary tests: burst speed tests, side load tests, unbalance measurements, and other parameters.
In addition to the equipment, the manufacturer must have qualified personnel capable of conducting tests and interpreting their results. This ensures continuous quality control not only during certification, but also in the daily production process.
3. Certified quality management system
The third criterion is the existence of a certified quality management system (QMS). As a rule, this is a system that complies with ISO 9001 or similar standards. The system must be documented and cover all stages of the production process - from incoming control of raw materials to shipment of finished products.
4. Independent product testing
The fourth criterion is that the product must undergo independent testing. This means that product samples are sent to an accredited third-party laboratory, which conducts a full range of tests in accordance with the applicable EN standard. The results of the independent testing provide objective confirmation of the product's compliance with safety requirements.
Independent testing eliminates conflicts of interest: the manufacturer cannot “adjust” the results of its own tests. The external laboratory has no financial interest in a positive result and is guided solely by the requirements of the standard.
5. External security audits
The fifth criterion involves conducting external safety audits. OSA auditors (or authorized organizations) conduct inspections of production sites, assessing the compliance of actual processes with the declared procedures. The audit covers production equipment, storage conditions of raw materials and finished products, quality control system and personnel qualifications.
External audits are not conducted once upon initial certification, but on a regular basis. This ensures continuity of control and prevents the manufacturer from lowering standards after receiving the certificate.
6. Regular production monitoring
The sixth criterion — regular production monitoring — complements external audits. As part of the monitoring, parameters of production processes, results of current tests, statistics of defects and complaints are monitored. Monitoring allows to identify negative trends before they lead to the release of dangerous products.
The frequency and extent of monitoring are determined based on the risk assessment and the manufacturer's history. New or less experienced manufacturers may be subject to more frequent inspections.
7. Product traceability
The seventh criterion is full traceability of products to the manufacturer. Each product with the oSa marking must be identifiable: the marking on the product itself must make it possible to determine the manufacturer, date of manufacture, batch, and other key parameters.
Traceability is critical for incident investigation. If an abrasive tool breaks during use, a traceability system allows you to quickly identify the manufacturer, batch, and potential extent of the problem. It also provides a basis for recalling defective products if necessary.
Abrasives Safety Test Methods
The theoretical requirements of the EN standards are translated into practice through specific test methods. Let’s look at three key tests that form the basis of the safety testing system for abrasive tools.
Burst Speed Test
The tensile test is the most important and most visible safety test for an abrasive tool. The essence of the method is simple: the product under test is fixed in a clamping device on a special testing machine, after which the rotation speed is continuously increased until the moment of failure.
The product must withstand without failure a minimum rupture velocity of not less than 1.73 times the operating velocity. The factor 1.73 (root of 3) provides a threefold reserve for kinetic energy, since energy is proportional to the square of the velocity. The velocity at which the fracture occurred is automatically recorded and recorded by the control system of the testing machine.
Typically, a product is completely destroyed after a tensile test and is no longer usable. This means that each test requires a “sacrifice” of a product sample. The tests are performed on a statistically significant sample from each production batch.
Side Load Test
The lateral load test evaluates the resistance of an abrasive tool to forces acting perpendicular to the axis of rotation. These loads occur in real-world operating conditions when the operator applies force not strictly in the plane of rotation of the disc.
During the test, a transverse force is applied to the rotating workpiece, which is gradually increased. The maximum lateral load that the workpiece can withstand without breaking or critical deformation is recorded. This test is particularly important for thin cutting discs, which can be subjected to significant bending loads during operation - for example, when they jam in a cut or when the operator tries to use the cutting disc for grinding.
Bending and Shear Test
The flexural and shear test evaluates the structural integrity of an abrasive tool when subjected to combined loads. Unlike the tear test, which simulates centrifugal forces, and the lateral load test, which simulates transverse forces, this test reproduces a more complex loading pattern.
The test results allow to assess the quality of the bond, the uniformity of the distribution of abrasive grain and the absence of hidden defects in the structure of the product. The complex nature of the load makes this test particularly sensitive to violations of the production technology: incorrect firing temperature, mixture heterogeneity, the presence of air bubbles in the thickness of the wheel.
Why is the oSa mark important for the buyer?
5 benefits of a certified tool
For the buyer of abrasive tools – whether a purchasing specialist for a large company or an individual craftsman – the oSa mark offers five specific benefits:
- Guaranteed verification of compliance with EN standards. Products with the oSa marking have been tested in accordance with the applicable standard - EN 12413, EN 13236 or EN 13743. This is not a manufacturer's declaration, but the result of an independent verification
- Regular production audits. Production that produces labeled products is regularly audited by external auditors. This eliminates the situation where a company passes certification and then lowers standards
- Full traceability to the manufacturer. Every product with the oSa label can be traced back to the specific manufacturer, production site and batch. In the event of a problem, the source and scale can be quickly identified
- Certified quality management system. The manufacturer has a documented quality management system that ensures the stability of product characteristics from batch to batch
- Internationally recognized safety mark. The oSa mark is recognized worldwide, making it easier to choose safe products regardless of the country of manufacture.
How to recognize the oSa mark on products
The oSa mark is applied directly to the abrasive tool - on its surface (by printing or embossing) or on a label attached to the product. The mark is also present on the product packaging.
When choosing an abrasive tool, the buyer is advised to pay attention to the presence of the oSa mark. For additional verification, you can check the manufacturer with the official list of certified companies on the website osa-abrasives.org. This list is regularly updated and contains up-to-date information about all companies that have the right to use the oSa mark.
Why GS, CE and ISO do not replace oSa
The question often arises: why is a separate oSa certification needed when there are the well-known GS, CE and ISO marks? The answer lies in the specifics of each of these marks:
| Sign | What certifies | Why doesn't it replace oSa? |
|---|---|---|
| GS (Tested Safety) | Safety of ready-to-use products | An abrasive tool is a component mounted on a machine tool or hand-held machine, not a finished product. |
| THIS | Compliance with EU directives | Abrasive tools are not subject to the Machinery Directive and do not require CE marking. |
| ISO (e.g. ISO 9001) | Company management systems | ISO certifies organizations, not products. A company can have ISO 9001 and produce products that do not meet abrasive safety standards. |
| oSa | The safety of a specific abrasive product | The only international certification confirming the safety of an abrasive product based on EN standards |
oSa certified manufacturers
Currently, over 60 companies worldwide have passed the oSa certification and are entitled to use the safety mark on their products. Among them are both global corporations with multi-billion dollar turnover and specialized manufacturers that occupy leading positions in their niches.
| Company | Country | Specialization |
|---|---|---|
| Saint-Gobain Abrasives | France / International | Full range of abrasive products |
| Tyrolit Group | Austria | Bonded abrasives, diamond tools |
| 3M Germany | Germany | Flexible abrasives, bonded abrasives |
| Klingspor | Germany | Flexible abrasives, bonded abrasives |
| Husqvarna | Sweden | Diamond tools for construction |
| Stanley Black & Decker | International | Abrasive and cutting tools |
| Hilti | International | Construction and professional tools |
| HORSE (August Rüggeberg) | Germany | Grinding and polishing tools |
| Hermes Abrasives | Germany | Flexible-backed abrasives |
| SAIT Abrasivi | Italy | Bonded and flexible abrasives |
| Carbosan | Turkey | Bonded abrasives |
| Camel Grinding Wheels | Israel | Grinding discs |
| DEATH Diamond | South Korea | Diamond tools |
| TAIL | China | Bonded abrasives |
This list is not exhaustive. A complete and up-to-date list of certified manufacturers is available on the organization's official website osa-abrasives.org.
Geography: from Europe to Asia
The geographical reach of oSa certified producers clearly demonstrates the global nature of the organization.
Europe remains the core of oSa. The founders of the organization and the largest number of certified companies are concentrated here. Germany is represented by such giants as Klingspor, PFERD, Hermes Schleifmittel, 3M Deutschland and Rhodius Schleifwerkzeuge. Italy is the second country in Europe with the largest number of certified manufacturers. Manufacturers from France, Austria, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia are also certified.
Turkey is an important participant in the oSa system. Turkish manufacturers such as Karbosan, Sonnenflex and Interabrasiv actively export their products to the European market, and oSa certification is a key competitive advantage for them.
Asia is showing a rapid growth in the number of certified manufacturers. In China, Gang YAN and Jiangsu Fengtai have been certified. South Korea is represented by Shinhan Diamond, EHWA Diamond and Hyosung. In Thailand, Resibon and Bosun are certified. India is represented, in particular, by Hilti Manufacturing India.
America is still represented to a lesser extent, but the geography is expanding. The Mexican company TENAZIT (Austromex) is a certified member of oSa.
The Middle East is represented by the Israeli company TOOLGAL (Camel Grinding Wheels), which is one of the world's leading manufacturers of grinding wheels with a long history.
oSa and NovoAbrasive
NovoAbrasive is a modern abrasive tools manufacturer that produces cutting and grinding wheels for metalworking, construction and other industries. The company's products are tested in accordance with European EN safety standards, which form the basis of the oSa certification system.
Strict quality control is applied in production, including regular burst speed tests - a key safety test for abrasive tools. Each batch of products is checked for compliance with the burst speed requirements with a safety factor specified in the EN 12413 standard.
The NovoAbrasive plant is ISO 9001 certified, confirming the existence of a documented quality management system. In addition, the products have been certified by MPA Hannover (Materialprüfungsanstalt Hannover), one of the most authoritative German testing organizations in the field of abrasive tools.
The use of Italian equipment and European raw materials ensures stable product quality and its compliance with the requirements for safe abrasive tools on the European market. Production is organized in accordance with the principles underlying the oSa system: own testing facilities, certified management system, traceability of each product to the production batch.
Latest news (2024–2026)
- 2024— Weiler Abrasives successfully passed the oSa recertification procedure, confirming the compliance of its products and production processes with the organization's current requirements
- 2025— the updated list of members of the organization includes more than 50 manufacturing companies, which confirms the steady growth in the number of certified companies
- 2024–2025— oSa actively conducts educational activities on social networks (@osa_the_symbol_of_safety on Instagram and @osasymbol on LinkedIn), regularly publishing materials on the safety of abrasive tools
- 2024–2026— the organization publishes updated safety recommendations with special attention to the problem of counterfeit products
- 2024–2026— market trends indicate an increase in demand for certified tools; increased occupational health and safety requirements stimulate the transition to tested and labeled products