Hand injury from portable hand-held angle grinder
- Safety Flash
- Published on 15 September 2020
- Generated on 26 December 2024
- IMCA SF 27/20
- 2 minute read
What happened?
A worker was injured whilst cleaning equipment using a portable handheld angle grinder fitted with a wire brush. The rotating brush caught an edge and kicked into the worker’s gloved left hand. The glove was pulled into the rotating wire brush resulting in a deep abrasion to the hand.
What were the causes? What went wrong?
Our Member’s investigation determined:
- The task risk assessment was incomplete.
- The grinder was being used without the side grip handle fitted.
- No consideration was given to where to place the hand relative to the rotating brush.
- Given the operator’s position, the grinder could not be used safely.
- The operator should have moved to the other side of the component to complete the task, and deployed the grinder in a horizontal position.
- The operator should have moved to the other side of the component to complete the task, and deployed the grinder in a horizontal position.
- There was no formal power tool / abrasive wheel training in place.
- There was inadequate supervision of the task.
Lessons learned
- Equipment should be safe and without risks to the operator (that is, complete, with safeguards fitted and free from defects). [This is a regulatory requirement in many places].
- Appropriate supervision is essential.
- Reliance was placed on experience and ‘on the job’ training rather than on formal training and competence evaluation.
Actions
- Task risk assessment amended to include all hazards and control measures.
- Angle grinder side grip handle obtained and fitted and its use made mandatory as company policy.
- Review of power tool/abrasive wheels training and competency evaluation requirements.
- Supervisors’ responsibilities discussed and reaffirmed.
Portable tools of this sort wield a lot of energy and their use should be preceded by appropriate training and assessment of competence. It’s easy to think “it’s just an angle grinder” and pick it up for a quick job – but it could have fatal consequences:
- Fatality: Grinder Incident [the wheel disintegrated, fragments penetrated the victim’s chest and abdomen. He was taken to hospital by rescue helicopter, but died the same day.]
See also:
- Portable Grinders – Hand Safety
- Are YOU prepared to work safely videos:
- IMCA short video – Watch your hands
- IMCA short video – Grinding wheel safety
Incidents reported to IMCA involving grinders, can be investigated here: https://www.imca-int.com/?s=grinders.
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