The majority of these injuries occur from an abrasive blade shattering, diamond-blade segment loss, or the angle grinder kicking back. An incredibly dangerous occurrence, the easiest way to prevent this from happening is simply not use these silicon-carbide blades, often referred to as throwaway blades. The best way to minimize these accidents is to use a blade with a strong weld, or no weld at all.
A series of penetrating facial wounds associated with angle grinder use are presented and the management and prevention of these injuries discussed. We present a series of three penetrating facial wounds associated with angle grinder use. Table 2Safe use of angle grindersSafety measureAdvantageUse the correct disc size and replace the disc when wear is obvious or the disc is chippedReduces the risk of a foreign body injury as a result of disc disintegrationStop using if vibration is very apparentDo not remove the guard unless for maintenanceIncreases personal protection from direct and foreign body injuryNever use an angle grinder overheadStand perpendicular to the plane of the cutting wheel, i.e. cut in a para-coronal plane to reduce the risk of kick back towards the sagittal plane of the bodyAlways wear appropriate personal protective equipment/clothingThe cases presented illustrate that the high speed disc of angle grinders does not respect anatomical boundaries or structures.
Because the risk of projectiles can only be minimised and not eliminated, as an angle grinder safety measure to stop injury, you must wear PPE to protect you from the risk of projectiles, especially eye and head protection. You might not be able to stop this, so you should make sure you are in a safe environment to use an angle grinder. In this post, we focused on angle grinder safety issues and different types of angle grinder accidents.
Whether the accessory on that angle grinder is a grinding disc, a cutting disc, or a wire wheel, you have something that is spinning at speeds anywhere from 9,000 to 11,000 RPM, inches from your hands, fingers, body, and face. I can guarantee you, if you are running an angle grinder for your job without a guard, at some point you are going to be injured by that grinder. If your angle grinder goes in and out of a tool crib every day, and if that tool crib issues you a grinder with an accessory on it, make sure to let it run no load for a minute.
This article will provide you with some critical statistics on these accidents and the reasons behind them, plus how to prevent these accidents while operating an angle grinder. Using a grinder with a lack of knowledge and training can lead to fatal angle grinder accidents. After knowing common types of angle grinder accidents and how to avoid them, you should bear in mind that there might be other risks that should be noticed.
angle grinder injury statistics Related Question:
What are most angle grinder injuries from?
In 2008, nearly 25,000 were injured nationwide while using angle grinders (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission). The majority of these injuries occur from an abrasive blade shattering, diamond-blade segment loss, or the angle grinder kicking back.
How dangerous are angle grinders?
Angle grinders can be a dangerous power tool. Kickbacks can result in severe cuts. Discs can shatter or disintegrate producing fragments which may become lodged in the operator’s eyes or other parts of the body, potentially causing a fatality.
Do angle grinder sparks hurt?
Conclusion. In summation, the sparks that result from cutting or grinding metal can be dangerous. Not only can they burn the eyes and skin, but they also can also ignite flammable materials such as wood, paper, or fabric causing a fire.
Should you wear a mask when angle grinding?
If you’re grinding stainless steel or if you’re grinding on something that could include a leaded component—a wire brush removing leaded paint—then you need to wear a respirator that will protect you from those hazardous dusts.
How common are grinder accidents?
‘The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents’ Accident Surveillance Systems data ranked angle grinders as the third most dangerous tools, with 5400 injuries recorded annually [2]. The vast majority of these injuries are caused by a shattering of the abrasive wheel [3].
How do you stop an angle grinder injury?
You can reduce the risk of kickback by making sure you are using the right wheel for the material and have your tool at the right speed. Dull and badly set wheels also increase the risk of accidents from kickback. Make sure you get trained in mounting wheels so that you can change your wheels when they become worn.3 days ago
Why are 9 inch grinders banned in Australia?
Note: 9 inch (230 mm) angle grinders have been banned on some work sites due to the increased risk of injury. The increased power and size of the unit will cause more severe kickback and gyroscopic effects (i.e. makes the grinder difficult to manoeuvre).
Why is a grinder dangerous?
Injuries resulting from the use of angle grinders are numerous. The most common sites injured are the head and face. The high speed disc of angle grinders does not respect anatomical boundaries or structures and thus the injuries produced can be disfiguring, permanently disabling or even fatal.
Can angle grinders start fires?
Cutting metal with an angle grinder causes a lot of sparks, however, the sparks that result are not that serious of a fire hazard. The reason being that the sparks emitted (generally) do not get hot enough to ignite, therefore, the chances of an accidental fire occurring are quite low.
Can sparks cause burns?
The flying sparks and hot metal, slag, spatter, hot workpiece, and hot equipment can cause burns. Additionally, arc rays can cause radiation burns .
Why do sparks not hurt?
The thermal energy an object has depends on its temperature, its mass and the type of material it is made from. Since these sparks have such low mass, they don’t have very much thermal energy. Without much energy, they don’t have the capacity to do very much damage to your skin.
Are P100 better than N95?
Abstract. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health–approved P100 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) have a higher filter efficiency compared to the N95 filters. However, the former typically produce higher flow resistance (Rf).
Do you need a respirator for grinding metal?
Is There a Specific Respirator for Metal Grinding? There may not be a specific respirator, but any respirator used for protection from metal dust should have specific characteristics. The minimum respirator should be a half face respirator that has been outfitted with filters for P2 particulates.
Is grinding steel harmful?
Steel workers are occupationally exposed to inhalation of dust particles containing metallic compounds. Long-term exposure to metallic particles may cause impairment of pulmonary surfactant and lung function and result in chronic respiratory diseases.
What is the most common cause of incidents involving abrasive wheels?
Nearly half of all accidents involving abrasive wheels are due to an unsafe system of work or operator error. This guidance advises on precautions you can take to prevent accidents in the use of abrasive wheels, in particular injury resulting from either wheel breakage or contact with a running wheel.
