Day to day activities – “don’t be complacent”.

Hand-held angle grinders are widely used across many sectors. Real-use measurements on angle grinders show upper quartile values in the range 7 to 9 m/s², this means that there is a risk of ill health to operators regularly using these machines for as little as 20 minutes per day. Grinders also typically produce LAeq noise levels of around 90 to 95 dB(A), making them a significant contributor to occupational noise exposure.

In addition to hand-arm vibration (HAV) and noise, many hand-held grinder users are also exposed to other physical hazards such as dust. Methods used to control dust, such as masks and water suppression systems, do not make any contribution to mitigating the effects of HAV and noise or to reducing musculoskeletal disorders.

Read more on our website for the most effective ways of controlling exposures from grinders.