Safety in Handling Magnets

Download the PDF safety sheet here.

In some circumstances strong permanent magnets or magnetic assemblies can be dangerous or cause injury or inconvenience to persons or property. This warning must be read prior to operating a permanent magnet or magnetic assembly.

ACCIDENTAL INJURIES CAUSED BY HANDLING PERMANENT MAGNETS

• Magnets can fly together or on to steel objects causing severe pinching or lacerations to the skin.
• Magnets can shatter on impact causing eye injury. Goggles or safety glasses must be used when handling.
• Children must not be permitted to handle or play with magnets.
• Avoid flame or oven heating, grinding, or cutting of magnets. These procedures carry a risk of oxygen absorption and possible shattering. Enclosed magnets may explode if heated. Do not attempt to weld magnets or assemblies.

OTHER HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS.

Long term daily handling of Permanent Magnets may represent a health risk. These health risks are discussed in British Pre-Standard No. 50166-1. We conclude from this Standard that there is usually no danger to operators occasionally cleaning or handling magnets with static magnetic field levels up to 20,000 gauss or 2 Tesla. A more recent paper INCIRP “Guidelines on limits of exposure to static magnetic fields” can also be referred to on this subject.

However, as a simple precaution, we recommend:

• Avoid unnecessary handling and uninformed handling/assembly of magnets.
• Avoid long term close bodily contact with strong magnets.
• Keep strong magnets away from head, eyes, heart, and trunk.
• Continuous daily exposure should not exceed 2,000 gauss or 0.2 tesla.
• Maximum one-off exposure should not exceed 20,000 gauss or 2 tesla.
• Persons with cardiac pacemakers, hormone infusion pumps (e.g. insulin), or other sensitive devices implanted in the body, or metallic prosthetic implants must not handle or come into close proximity of magnets. Specialist medical opinion must be sought before such persons handle magnets or come into close contact with magnets or magnetic fields.
• Persons with cardiac pacemakers must not allow magnet within close proximity of their chest or be in an environment above .5mt (5 gauss).
• As a general guide, persons with cardiac pacemakers should avoid coming closer than 12″ or 300mm from the working or field-throwing face of magnets such as:
  • Small plate magnets, grate magnets, probe magnets, magnet bars, spherical magnets, etc.
  • Note: there are other magnets such as suspension magnets, magnetic drums and pulleys, overband and crossbelt magnets, etc which could require the minimum distance to be up to 2 metres. When in doubt a gauss chart should be undertaken.
  • When removing magnets for cleaning, NEVER allow magnets to come in close contact with other magnets or steel surfaces – this can result in severe crushing, laceration, and amputation injuries
• IMPORTANT: NO PERSON WITH A PACEMAKER SHOULD EVER HANDLE OR CLEAN MAGNETS!

DAMAGE TO ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT

Permanent Magnets can cause damage to electronic equipment such as (but not limited to):

• Phone cards.
• Smart cards.
• Credit cards.
• PC’s and computer equipment.
• Video and audio tapes.

Close contact can erase stored information. Keep magnets away from electronic equipment (N.B: We can advise on the insulation of vulnerable items).

LIFTING OR HOLDING MAGNETS

The “Lifting Magnet Safety and Training Sheet” must be consulted before carrying out lifting or holding operations with magnets. This is supplied with the consignment on supply. For additional copies, please contact us.

TRANSPORT OF MAGNETS – DANGEROUS GOODS

• Strong magnets may affect navigation instruments in aircraft.
• If air-freighting magnets, please advise your freight agents and the airline, and consult your Dangerous Goods Management Authority. Magnets should usually be road-freighted, and your freight company must be provided with a copy of this “Safety and Handling Magnets” sheet.
• We can advise on or provide special insulation packaging which satisfies air transport regulations.

DISCLAIMER: THIS PAGE IS PRESENTED WITHOUT PREJUDICE AND WITH THE COMPLIMENTS OF MAGNATTACK® GLOBAL.

We specifically remind you that it is your responsibility, as the user of this equipment, to undertake a risk assessment, develop and review a safe use procedure in the light of the risk assessment, make any modifications to reflect how the equipment is used at your workplace and then adequately train those people who are going to use the equipment.

This document is not intended to provide comprehensive safety instructions, but to provide safety guidelines in the interests of our valued customers.

You must consult the appropriate authorities as to the proper use of magnets.

Please also refer to Magnattack® Global’s “Terms and Conditions of Sale” which is available upon request.