Angle grinders used with cutting discs expose workers to a range of severe additional hazards. Safe work procedures should ensure that, wherever a safer alternative cutting tool is available or can be obtained, an angle grinder is not used as a cutting tool. Angle grinders are one of the most dangerous hand tools in the manufacturing metal products industry. Kickback, where the disc is thrust away from the object it is grinding, can result in severe cuts to hands, arms, head, torso and legs.
Discs can shatter or explode, sending pieces flying across the workshop.
A boilermaker was thrown backwards more than 2 metres when a disc exploded, seriously injuring his hand. Most angle grinder injuries are from metal particles lodging in the operator's eye. The following questions are to help toolbox meetings to identify workplace hazards and to reduce the risks. This may not be necessary for certain tasks with smaller models. Every employee who uses an angle grinder must receive training and instruction in safe work procedures.