Angle Grinder Safety

Many day-to-day jobs necessitate the use of portable power tools like circular saws, angle grinders, nail guns, and power drills. These powerful tools are widely used across the construction, engineering, and manufacturing industries.  Unfortunately, they are also a leading cause of many workplace injuries due to human error, unsafe methods of working and, on rare occasions, tool malfunction.

Any power tool can be highly hazardous if used incorrectly or without following the relevant safety precautions, resulting in serious or even life-changing injuries. According to NHS statistics, there were approximately 4,800 hospitalisations for power tool injuries in 2018-19 over a 12-month period.

Whilst an employer is responsible for taking reasonable precautions to ensure workers' safety, including providing PPE provisions such as goggles, masks and safety shoes, individuals must also undergo training to help understand how to operate tools and machinery safely. It is imperative that workers take this responsibility seriously, as a moment of misjudgement can have disastrous consequences.  

Angle grinders are just one tool that can be hazardous if used incorrectly. Powerful and sharp, with the ability to easily cut through a wide range of surfaces and hard materials, angle grinder safety entails changing discs and selecting the appropriate attachments, using the tool correctly, and installing the necessary controls.

Angle Grinder Injury Statistics

  • Power tools cause over 960,000 injuries each year.
  • Power tools are responsible for over 200 deaths each year.
  • Table saw accidents resulted in 29,000 emergency room visits.
  • According to an NCBI survey, the average age of those injured is 53.2 years.
  • Males are more likely than females to sustain power tool injuries.

Angle grinders alone cause approximately 5,000 injuries annually, making them the third most dangerous tool, and they cause approximately 11% of acute forearm and hand injuries. Angle grinders are even ranked the third most dangerous tools in the industry, according to RoSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents), with 5,400 injuries recorded annually. 

Furthermore, the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) reported 39 fatal injuries in the UK construction sector alone in 2020-21, and in 2019, over a fifth (22%) of fatal accidents at work in the EU were caused by losing control of a machine, tool, or transport/handling equipment.

When using angle grinders/cut-off machines, the following hazards are among the most common:

  • The wheel guard is not installed, and the grinding wheel breaks, injuring the user.
  • Working with one hand on the machine/the user holding the machine with one hand is the cause of approximately 40% of accidents.
  • A grinding wheel kick-back causes the machine to suddenly jump away from the workpiece, posing a danger/risk of an accident.

The Different Types of Angle Grinder Injuries

Using the incorrect wheel for the task, or using the tool incorrectly, can cause harm in various ways, including:

  • Skin abrasions.
  • Finger amputation.
  • Injuries to the eyes.
  • Injuries to the head.
  • Injuries to the feet.
  • Other types of impact injuries.

How To Reduce The Risk of Angle Grinder Injuries

  • Always wear appropriate PPE.

Even if you're only doing a short shot or grind that should take only a few seconds, you must still  take the time to put on the suggested PPE. Wear "eye and hearing protection; leather gloves; natural fibre clothing; apron and respiratory protection as needed," according to OSHA. Furthermore, avoid wearing loose-fitting clothes and shoes and pin long hair back.

  • Use the safety guards as intended.

All of your tool's safety features are there for a reason. Angle grinder guards are intended to protect your hands and body from the spinning disc, as well as to protect you if your abrasive wheel or disc breaks or shatters. For this reason, almost all angle grinders have a burst-proof guard. They have a locking mechanism that restricts the guard from opening instantly to the controller in the event that your wheel shatters. You should never work as a security guard without being attached.

  • Before changing or touching the grinder wheel, make sure to unplug it.
  • Keep other people, especially children, away from your work area.
  • The piece you're starting to work on should be firmly clamped and/or supported to avoid accidents.
  • Because angle grinders can generate sparks, ensure there are no flammable materials nearby.
  • When you buy a new disc, run it through the grinder for at least 30 seconds in a safe area before attempting to use it to ensure it is not defective.
  • Always use both hands to maintain a firm and steady grip on the angle grinder.
  • During use, metal grinder blades can overheat. Avoid this by keeping the grinder moving but not applying too much pressure and keeping a bucket of water and a rag nearby to drench the metal frequently.
  • Invest In high-quality angle grinders.

Investing in high-quality power tools not only protects you and reduces the risk of injury but also offers greater lifespans and unrivalled quality and performance. Opting for cheap power tools isn’t always the best option.

 

The Protago - The Safest Angle Grinder In Today’s Market

The much-anticipated cordless 18v Protago high-safety angle grinder  was unveiled in the UK in May 2022.

Users are protected from flying fragments by the Protago's non-removable wheel guard, but they cannot operate the high-safety angle grinder with one hand due to an integrated 'AutoStop' dead man's switch and a permanently mounted non-removable additional handle, which only allows a two-hand operation.

When one hand is removed, the tool's power is automatically turned off, and its anti-kickback function detects any sudden movements, such as loss of control, and shuts it down. For testing purposes, FEIN used the Ironhand glove to determine the best handle positions for the grinder and the user. The non-removable wheel guard includes an additional six-position non-removable adjustable side handle for flexible working in small spaces, as well as the newly developed enhanced anti-kickback detection function. The Protago also has an ergonomic grip, as well as electronic overload protection and brakes.

Protago's key benefits include:

  • Protecting employees' health by significantly reducing the number of workplace accidents on site.
  • Driving efficiency and cost reductions due to fewer accidents on the job site help save time and money.
  • Enhancing productivity, due to the decrease in workplace accidents.
  • Lowering operator fatigue and reducing unnecessary machine pressure while still operating normally in all grinding applications.
  • Almost completely removing the threats associated with incorrect angle grinder operation.

Learn more about the Protago angle grinder here or request a demonstration.

Sources:

NHS.

RoSPA.

HSE.