Kickback and Related Warnings
Kickback is a sudden reaction to a pinched or snagged rotating wheel, backing pad, brush or any other
accessory. Pinching or snagging causes rapid stalling of the rotating accessory which in turn causes the
uncontrolled power tool to be forced in the direction opposite of the accessory's rotation at the point of the
binding.
For example, if an abrasive wheel is snagged or pinched by the workpiece, the edge of the wheel that is
entering into the pinch point can dig into the surface of the material causing the wheel to climb out or kick
out. The wheel may either jump towards or away from the operator, depending on direction of the wheel's
movement at the point of pinching. Abrasive wheels may also break under these conditions.
Kickback is the result of power tool misuse and/or incorrect operating procedures or conditions and can be
avoided by taking proper precautions as given below.
a) Maintain a firm grip on the power tool and position your body an arm to allow you to resist
kickback forces. Always use auxiliary handle, if provided, for maximum control over kickback or
torque reaction during start up. The operator can control torque reactions or kickback forces, if proper
precautions are taken.
b) Never place your hand near the rotating accessory. Accessory may kickback over your hand.
c) Do not position your body in the area where power tool will move if kickback occurs. Kickback will
propel the tool in the direction opposite to the wheel's movement at the point of snagging.
d) Use special care when working corners, sharp edges etc. Avoid bouncing and snagging the
accessory. Corners, sharp edges or bouncing have a tendency to snag the rotating accessory and cause
loss of control or kickback.
e) Do not attach a saw chain woodcarving blade or toothed saw blade. Such blades create frequent
kickback and loss of control.
Safety Warnings Specific for Grinding and
Abrasive Cutting-Off Operations
a) Use only wheel types that are recommended for your power tool and the specific guard designed
for the selected wheel. Wheels for which the power tool was not designed cannot be adequately
guarded and are unsafe.
b) The guard must be securely attached to the power tool and positioned for maximum safety, so the
least amount of wheel is exposed towards the operator. The guard helps to protect the operator from
broken wheel fragments, accidental contact with wheel, and sparks that could ignite clothing.
c) Wheels must be used only for recommended applications. For example: do not grind with the side
of the cut-off wheel. Abrasive cut-off wheels are intended for peripheral grinding; side forces applied to
these wheels may cause them to shatter.
d) Always use undamaged wheel flanges that are of correct size and shape for your selected wheel.
Proper wheel flanges support the wheel, thus reducing the possibility of wheel breakage. Flanges for
cut-off wheels may be different from grinding wheel flanges.
e) Do not use worn down wheels from larger power tools. Wheels intended for larger power tools are not
suitable for the higher speed of a smaller tool and may burst.
Additional Safety Warnings Specific for
Abrasive Cutting-Off Operations
a) Do not 'jam' the cut-off wheel or apply excessive pressure. Do not attempt to make an excessive
depth of cut. Overstressing the wheel increases the loading and susceptibility to twisting or binding of
the wheel in the cut and the possibility of kickback or wheel breakage.
b) Do not position your body in line with and behind the rotating wheel. When the wheel, at the point of
operation, is moving away from your body, the possible kickback may propel the spinning wheel and the
power tool directly at you.
c) When wheel is binding or when interrupting a cut for any reason, switch off the power tool
and hold the power tool motionless until the wheel comes to a complete stop. Never attempt to
remove the cut-off wheel from the cut while the wheel is in motion otherwise kickback may occur.
Investigate and take corrective action to eliminate the cause of wheel binding.
d) Do not restart the cutting operation in the workpiece. Let the wheel reach full speed and
carefully re-enter the cut. The wheel may bind, walk up or kickback if the power tool is restarted in the
workpiece.
e) Support panels or any oversized workpiece to minimise the risk of wheel pinching and kickback.
Large workpieces tend to sag under their own weight. Supports must be placed under the workpiece near
the line of cut and near the edge of the workpiece on both sides of the wheel
f)
Use extra caution when making a 'pocket cut' into existing walls or other blind areas. The
protruding wheel may cut gas or water pipes, electrical wiring or objects that can cause kickback.
Safety Warnings Specific for Sanding
Operations
a) Do not use excessively oversized sanding disc paper. Follow manufacturer's recommendations,
when selecting sanding paper. Larger sanding paper extending beyond the sanding pad presents a
laceration hazard and may cause snagging, tearing of the disc, or kickback.
Safety Warnings Specific for Wire
Brushing Operations
a) Be aware that wire bristles are thrown by the brush even during ordinary operation. Do not
overstress the wires by applying excessive load to the brush. The wire bristles can easily penetrate
light clothing and/or skin.
b) If the use of the guard is recommended for wire brushing, do not allow any interference of the
wire wheel or brush with the guard. Wire wheel or brush may expand in diameter due to work load and
centrifugal forces.
Additional Grinder Safety
WARNING: When using straight and depressed centre cutting-off wheels (type 41 and 42) plus grinding
wheels that grind on the edge only (type 1), a cutting guard or cut-off guard must be fitted.
WARNING: DO NOT operate a grinder without the appropriate guards in place. Reset the guard if the
work angle or the position of the person operating the machine changes.
WARNING: Always check for an expiry date of the grinding or cutting disc before use (remove from tool
if necessary). This will be either printed on the label or stamped on the inner steel ring of the disc. DO NOT
use an expired disc as it may shatter in use.
The grinding surface of the centre depressed wheels must be mounted below the plane of the
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guard lip. An improperly mounted wheel that projects through the plane of the guard lip cannot be
adequately protected
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Do not touch grinding or cutting discs after use until they have cooled down
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Reset the on/off switch of the tool to the 'off' position whenever the power is interrupted
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The machine can be subject to overload if too much application force is exerted. Overload can lead
to overheating and damage of the power tool. After use, continue to run the tool at no-load for several
minutes in order to cool it down by using the fan of the motor
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When operating the grinder, it is an essential safety requirement that the correct type of guard is
installed for each application to prevent injury. For example, a cutting guard must be installed when
using a cutting or diamond disc, and a grinding guard must be used with grinding discs
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Grinding tool accessories must be mounted, used and stored in compliance with the
manufacturer's recommendations
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Use the correct type of cutting or grinding disc for the task and material. Check the label on the disc
or accessory to find out if it is appropriate to use on the workpiece
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If discs are supplied with blotters they must be fitted and used correctly. Not fitting blotters may
cause the disc to shatter in use and be a safety risk
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Ensure the cutting/grinding disc or accessory is fitted correctly and securely before use. Run the
machine with the disc or accessory fitted, but without load, for a reasonable time before attempting to
cut/grind. If excessive vibration occurs, stop the machine, investigate and correct the cause before use.
Seek professional guidance if you are in doubt about how to operate the machine safely
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Do not allow discs to become wet or contaminated with oil. If you suspect a disc has degraded in
storage, or if you are unsure whether its expiry date has passed, DO NOT USE AND DISCARD
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Do not attempt to cut or grind magnesium or any alloy that has high magnesium content
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Hold the machine appropriately to ensure that debris produced does not land on skin or clothing
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Do not touch the spindle lock button while the tool is operating
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A grinding disc will gradually wear down during use, reducing its size. If a disc becomes too small
to work with easily, stop using it and replace it with a new disc
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