Angle grinders are extremely useful and versatile tools. They can handle a variety of attachments such as wire brushes, cutting discs, and grinding discs, and can therefore perform a variety of tasks. However, they spin at very high speeds, and whenever such high amounts of speed and power are involved, there is a potential risk of injury.
What Makes Angle Grinders So Dangerous?
Angle grinders spin at up to 11,000 revolutions per minute. They are also designed to work on extremely tough materials that require a certain amount applied in order to cut or grind. This combination of a powerful, fast spinning machine and difficult to work with materials can be very dangerous.
When using an angle grinder, there is always the possibility of kickback, which is when the machine jumps back from the workpiece toward the user. If you think that an angle grinder can do serious damage to steel, you can just imagine what it can do to your fingers and hands, and any other body parts!
Angle Grinder Safety Tips
Always Wear Proper PPE
Even if you are just trying to do a small job that should take a few seconds, you should always put on personal protective equipment. It is recommended that you wear safety glasses, & hearing protection, leather gloves, natural fibre clothing, an apron and respiratory protection as needed.
Always Use the Right Wheels
Angle grinders are not all the same, and each one is designed to use certain discs and wheels which may not be interchangeable with another size. Using the wrong disc size, even if you can fit it onto the grinder, can result in the disc wobbling, becoming unstable, and even causing kickback.
Use the Safety Guards as Designed
All the safety features on an angle grinder are there for a reason. Guards that are installed on angle grinders are designed to be a barrier between your hands and body from the spinning disc as well as to protect you if the abrasive wheel or disc breaks or shatters. Almost all angle grinders have a burst-proof guard for this reason. The guards have been designed to have a locking mechanism that blocks the guard from opening itself automatically to the operator in the event your wheel shatters. Guards should never be modified or removed.
Avoid Fire Hazards
Whenever you are cutting metal with an angle grinder, you will be shooting out sparks around your work area and these sparks can be highly flammable. To avoid igniting an accidental fire, it is important to make sure the work area is clear of any flammable material and make sure there are no flammable liquids or gasses in the area.
Always Inspect Your Machine and the Discs
Always inspect the angle grinder and the abrasive discs before using a grinder. If a disc has been dropped, or if it is just old and past its prime, then it may have been damaged to the point where it is no longer safe to use. Never use wheels or discs that have cracks, are bent, warped, or are anything but in perfect condition.
Using abrasives discs that are in prime condition will help make any task at hand much easier, and much safer too.
Angle grinders are one of the most commonly used tools on a worksite, and if you use them properly, they can be relatively safe. Follow all the angle grinder safety tips mentioned above to minimise the chance of an accident occurring. If you are looking for a complete range of personal protective equipment that you can use when using an angle grinder, browse our complete range at https://www.southland.com.au/