Risks when handling strong magnets

Magnets are objects that we use in our daily life, depending on the application to which we want to destine it, we will use one type or another. The strongest magnet and therefore the most dangerous magnet is the neodymium magnet. If this type of permanent magnet has large dimensions, there may be a risk of serious accidents due to its large magnetic field.
As we already know in everyday life magnets attract aluminum and gold, among other materials, we must be careful when using them and in the case of large magnets, store them properly to ensure the welfare of the people around them, as well as objects and furniture that are nearby.

What factors do we have to take into account when handling strong magnets and transporting them?

When dealing with magnets with a high magnetism we have to take into account several factors such as:

• Magnets of large dimensions have a great force of attraction, so the lack of attention can cause the breakage of some areas of the magnet causing shocks and even a magnet of large dimensions can originate hemorrhages... On the other hand, if the ocular fragments come into contact with the eyes, these can cause eye injuries.

• The alteration of air transport: the presence of magnets or any other magnetic element in any air transport, mainly in airplanes, can produce an alteration of the navigation control devices causing fatal accidents.

In addition to the dangers of magnets and working with large magnets, there are also possible accidents caused by smaller magnets.

Which magnets are most frequently involved in accidents?

The most recurrent accidents with this type of magnet are:

• Keep it out of the reach of children:since most magnets are made of nickel or rare earth and these could be allergic to children. On the other hand, when dealing with magnets of short size, they could be ingested into the body causing fatal complications.

• Conductors of electric current, many people are unaware of this property that magnets have, which can produce a variation in the functioning of pacemakers and defibrillators. In the same way, we have to take into account the exposure of pregnant women, since these cause biological effects of static fields causing hospital diseases originating nosocomial infections (NI), in other words, infections that are generated at the time of admission of the patient.