Reader safety tip: Beware of kickback from angle grinders

South-west Scotland farmer Andy Nelson is the winner of February’s safety tip of the month competition, run in association with Buckler Boots.

Mr Nelson, who farms beef and sheep near Castle Douglas, had a close shave with an angle grinder, which he says has made him think more carefully about the safest way to carry out a job.

“I have been using angle grinders for years without incident, and then last October I was doing some repairs to a trailer that involved some cutting at head height, something I had done many times. However, this was a five minute job that turned into something major.

See also: 7 readers’ top safety tips

“The grinder kicked back hitting me on the chin and knocking me to the ground. I stood up thinking that was all until my father told me I had cut my throat.

“I ended up having two days in hospital and two weeks off. I now have a 10cm cut across my neck and a new outlook on life.”

Mr Nelson said while had always been conscious of flying sparks and the need to wear protective clothing, he had never really thought about the grinder kicking back.

He now makes sure he tries to position himself in a way as to avoid kickback when working.

He said friends and neighbours who have heard about his accident have also had a rethink about their approach to safety, which is why he has shared his story.

“It is a tool which people are perhaps a bit complacent about as everyone has one and everyone uses one. It is a job I had done a million times and never had a problem. I’d encourage people to make sure staff are aware of the risks and carry out a risk assessment.”

Mr Nelson wins a pair of boots of his choice from the Buckler Boot range.

If you have a safety tip you would like to share, that might help raise awareness of the dangers of working in agriculture, then send it to safetytips@rbi.co.uk.

Every month the person who sends in the best tip for our online health and safety page will win a pair of Buckler Boots.