Safety Information

Comprehensive Health and Safety Guidelines for Neodymium Magnets

1. Strong Magnetic Fields – A Serious Hazard

Neodymium magnets produce extremely powerful magnetic fields that can interfere with sensitive medical equipment such as pacemakers, insulin pumps, and other implantable devices. This risk can result in malfunction, potentially causing life-threatening consequences. Similarly, these magnets can also affect navigation systems like compasses or any equipment dependent on magnetic orientation.

• Safety Measures:
• Keep neodymium magnets at least 20 cm (8 inches) away from all medical devices, especially pacemakers, which can be disrupted at even moderate distances.
• Advise anyone with medical implants to stay away from environments where large magnets are being handled.
• Devices like hearing aids and metal prosthetics can also be affected—carefully assess the work area before use.

 

2. Pinching, Crushing, and Physical Injury Risks

Due to their strength, neodymium magnets can rapidly snap together when brought close to one another, creating the risk of severe pinching, crushing, or even breaking bones if large magnets are involved. When magnets suddenly jump toward each other, even through a gap of several centimetres, the force of their collision can be extremely high.

• Safety Measures:
• Protective gloves should always be worn while handling large magnets to reduce the risk of pinching.
• Keep your hands, fingers, and other body parts clear of potential pinch points between two magnets or between magnets and metal surfaces.
• If using magnets in areas with ferrous metals, use wooden or plastic spacers between magnets to slow their movement toward each other.
• For larger magnets, consider using tools like tongs to manipulate them and avoid close manual handling.

 

3. Electronic Interference – Potential for Permanent Damage

The intense magnetic fields generated by neodymium magnets can cause irreversible damage to many types of electronic devices. This includes household gadgets such as smartphones, computers, televisions, and radios. Sensitive equipment like hard drives and credit cards may lose data when exposed to magnets. Similarly, mechanical watches and CRT monitors can be disrupted, sometimes leading to complete failure.

• Safety Measures:
• Ensure magnets are kept at least 30 cm (12 inches) away from any sensitive electronic equipment.
• Avoid placing magnets near magnetic storage devices (e.g., external hard drives, credit cards, or magnetic ID badges).
• If handling large magnets, establish a designated safe zone for electronics that could be affected.

 

4. Fragility – Risk of Shattering and Sharp Debris

Neodymium magnets, though strong, are surprisingly brittle and prone to fracturing or shattering if they collide with each other or hard surfaces. This can result in flying shards that may cause injury to eyes or skin. The fragments can be sharp, posing an additional risk of cuts or punctures.

• Safety Measures:
• When handling magnets, especially larger ones, avoid allowing them to collide with each other or hard surfaces.
• Consider working in a padded environment where the risk of dropping magnets is minimized.
• Always wear protective eyewear to guard against potential flying shards.
• If a magnet does shatter, use non-metallic tools (such as plastic tweezers) to carefully gather the pieces and dispose of them properly. Broken fragments should be handled with care as they can still be magnetic.

 

5. Ingestion Hazards – A Severe and Potentially Fatal Risk

One of the most significant risks associated with neodymium magnets is accidental ingestion. If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract each other through the walls of the intestines, potentially causing blockages, perforations, or even necrosis. This risk is especially high with small children and pets, who may inadvertently swallow magnets. Ingested magnets can cause severe internal injuries and require emergency surgery to remove.

• Safety Measures:
• Always store magnets out of reach of children and pets.
• Ensure that any toys or devices containing small magnets are securely assembled and inspect them regularly for any missing parts.
• In the event of ingestion, seek emergency medical attention immediately. The situation is a medical emergency and should not be delayed.

 

6. Temperature Sensitivity – Effects of Heat Exposure

Neodymium magnets lose their magnetic properties when exposed to high temperatures. When temperatures exceed approximately 80°C (176°F), their magnetism weakens, and exposure to even higher temperatures can lead to complete demagnetization.

• Safety Measures:
• Avoid using neodymium magnets in environments where they may be exposed to high heat (such as near ovens or industrial machinery).
• Store magnets in cool, dry areas to preserve their properties.
• For industrial applications where heat is inevitable, consider using specialized high-temperature magnets.

 

7. Magnets and Fire Hazards

Although neodymium magnets themselves are not flammable, the rare-earth materials within them can ignite under extreme conditions. In the case of a fire, the resulting toxic fumes could be harmful if inhaled. Therefore, neodymium magnets should not be exposed to fire or high-temperature environments.

• Safety Measures:
• Store magnets away from potential fire sources or environments with flammable materials.
• In case of a fire in the vicinity of magnets, use appropriate fire extinguishing methods and avoid inhaling fumes.

 

8. General Guidelines for Safe Handling and Storage

• Storage:
• Keep neodymium magnets stored in closed containers when not in use to prevent accidental attraction to other objects or magnets.
• Place magnets in cushioned environments to prevent shattering if they are bumped or moved.
• Transportation:
• When shipping magnets, especially in bulk, ensure that they are packaged securely with non-magnetic materials to avoid damage and reduce the risk of unintended attraction to other ferrous materials during transport.

 

9. Emergency Procedures

• Pinching Injuries: In case of pinching or crushing, assess the injury and apply first aid as needed. Seek medical attention if the injury is severe.
• Shattering or Flying Fragments: Use proper protective equipment and non-metallic tools to clean up shattered pieces. Keep the area free from magnet fragments to prevent injury.
• Ingestion: Immediate emergency treatment is essential if magnets are ingested. Do not wait for symptoms to develop.