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Safety Alert for angle grinder chainsaw disc

1 July 2021

Safety Alert for angle grinder chainsaw disc

One major benefit of obtaining equipment from a reputable hire outlet is that they know what equipment will get jobs done efficiently and, above all, safely. 

However, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), the UK’s national product safety regulator, has issued a Safety Alert for a chainsaw disc attachment that has been incorrectly sold for use with angle grinders.

These attachments are not designed to be used together and are likely to cause loss of control which could result in serious injury or even fatality, the organisation states.

Reports have been received of injuries arising from kickback caused by the chainsaw blade gripping the cutting surface and forcing the angle grinder to sharply turn or jump out of the operator’s hand.

Any consumers who have these angle grinder attachments in their possession are being urged to stop using them immediately. The OPSS also suggests they should contact the seller for redress if they believe the product was incorrectly marketed as compatible for use with an angle grinder.

The organisation is also telling any business that sells these chainsaw discs as attachments for angle grinders to remove them from the market immediately as they do not comply with the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008.

The Alert arises from a risk assessment carried out by OPSS following two previous risk alerts published by the Office in February, based on information from local regulators.

OPSS is working with local authority Trading Standards to identify and take appropriate action against these chainsaw discs.


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