UK Safety Alert issued for angle grinder chainsaw disc attachment

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has issued a Safety Alert for a chainsaw disc attachment that has been incorrectly sold for use with angle grinders.

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

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

OPSS 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.

This Safety Alert is the result of 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 attachments.

OPSS Chief Executive Graham Russell said: OPSS has taken this important step because the chainsaw attachments are not designed to be used with angle grinders and could cause serious injury or even fatality.

This Safety Alert is the latest step taken by OPSS to help protect the UK public from unsafe products.

This is valid as of 12th July 2021.

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