Concerns over a dangerous chainsaw accessory have prompted the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) to issue a safety alert.
The chainsaw discs have been incorrectly sold for use with angle-grinders, leading to reports of injuries caused by kickback as the chainsaw grips the cutting surface, causing the tool to sharply turn or jump out of the hands of the operator.
Consumers in possession of the chainsaw disc attachments are being urged to stop using them, and retailers stocking them have been told to withdraw them from sale.
The OPSS has advised trading standards teams to identify and take appropriate action against businesses that sell the accessories, as they do not comply with the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008.
Last week a firefighter in West Sussex sustained injuries when using one of the discs. Simon Woodland cut his leg when his angle-grinder kicked back during a DIY project. “This product should never have been invented,” he told the Bognor Regis Observer. “It’s unsafe and potentially lethal. I urge anyone who has these in their possession to not use them under any circumstances and return them for a full refund.”
Peter Aston, Team Manager with West Sussex Trading Standards said: “We are contacting shops in the county who may have these items on sale over the coming days, but we believe that these have mostly been sold online by overseas sellers.
“Any business that sells these chainsaw discs as attachments for angle grinders must remove them from the market immediately.”
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.”
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