the worker's hand will be closer to the unguarded moving blade. there is nothing to stop the broken pieces hitting the worker. Guards should be provided and used on all power tools where there is a risk of the disc ejecting, disintegrating or cutting the worker. Larger discs are not designed for the higher speed of smaller grinders and if used, risk the disc shattering and striking the user and others. Photograph 1 shows an angle grinder with the wrong size cutting disc fitted and the guard removed. Larger angle grinders are manufactured with lower revolutions per minute (RPM) than smaller angle grinders, so that the edge speed of the disc always remains around 70 m/s.įitting a 14 inch (356 mm) cut-off disc to a 9 inch (230 mm) angle grinder will increase the edge speed excessively to at least 120 m/s (430 kmph). peripheral speed) of approximately 70 metres/second (m/s) (250 kilometres per hour (kmph)). 
In some cases the guards have been removed and the grinder fitted with a 14 inch (356 mm) cut-off disc.Ĭutting discs are usually designed for a maximum outside edge speed (i.e. One major contributing factor is the use of cutting discs that are too large for the angle grinder. Many other workers have been seriously injured when angle grinders have kicked back, causing cuts and lacerations. It appears that the high impact of the projectile caused fatal internal injuries. In February 2016, a worker was killed while operating a 9 inch (230 mm) angle grinder when part of a broken disc struck his chest.
The purpose of this safety alert is to highlight the risks associated with removing guards and using incorrect discs on angle grinders.
0 kommentar(er)
