Hand injury from portable handheld Angle Grinder

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;
• 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://legacy.imca-int.com/?s=grinders.