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Safety
The following should not be construed
as a complete and exhaustive list of hazards presented by magnetic
materials. This document is provided for information only. Readers are
responsible for checking the accuracy, completeness, currency and/or
suitability of all information themselves. National Imports LLC does not
represent, guarantee or warranty the accuracy, completeness, currency,
or suitability of the information in this document. National Imports LLC
specifically disclaims any and all liability for any claims or damages
that may result from providing this document or the information it
contains.
Handling
Children should not be allowed to play
with magnets. Children should be strictly supervised by an adult
when handling magnets. Children and adults should not ingest
magnets or place magnets in any body orifice such the ear, nose or mouth. Ingestion of magnets is very hazardous.
If magnets are ingested or aspirated to the lungs, immediate medical
attention is required.
Rare-Earth magnets are fragile and can
break easily. These magnets will become demagnetized when exposed to high
heat. These magnets are powerful and can accelerate at high speeds toward
each other and toward ferrous material. When these magnets come together
quickly, they can shatter and break sending particles at speed. These
magnets can also pinch strongly if allowed to come together against the
skin. You should always wear gloves and eye protection when handling large
magnets. Very large magnets can pose a crushing hazard and should not be
handled.
Pull force descriptions on this site are
estimates based on ideal conditions and should not be used in application
design. Variations in iron content, thickness, temperature and surface finish and
condition will all reduce these ratings. Magnets should never be used to
lift objects over people.
Rare-earth magnets have strong magnetic
fields that can damage electronic equipment and magnetic data storage
media. You should keep these magnets away from electronic equipment,
computer discs, credit cards, video tapes, and other magnetic media.
Neodymium rare-earth magnets should not
be burned. These magnets can ignite and burn at high intensity. These
magnets should not be drilled or machined. Drilling may cause high heat to
develop resulting in ignition. The magnets may shatter and break when
drilled
Neodymium rare-earth magnets are subject
to corrosion. Magnets that have corroded have changed their physical
properties. The Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for the component
materials (Iron, Neodymium, Boron, Nickel, and Copper) should be consulted
prior to the use, handling or transportation of corroded neodymium
rare-earth magnets.
Transportation
Transportation of magnetic materials by
air in the United States is regulated by the U.S. Department of
Transportation and is covered under the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
49 parts 100-185. A magnetized material is considered a hazardous material
and is regulated as a hazard class 9 material when it is offered for
transportation by air and when it has a magnetic field strength capable of
causing the deviation of aircraft instruments. Any magnetic material with
a measurable field strength greater than 0.00525 gauss at 15 feet is
prohibited from air transportation. An article is not restricted as a
magnetized material if the field strength observed at a distance of 7 feet
is less than 0.002 gauss or there is no significant compass deflection
(less than 0.5 degree).
The International Air Transport
Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations provide guidelines for the
identification, classification, and testing of potentially hazardous
materials offered for transports by air. IATA Packing Instruction 902
defines the acceptance criteria and provides packaging guidelines for
magnetized material. These instructions should be consulted prior to
transporting magnetic material by air.
Magnetized material is not regulated as a
hazardous material when transported via ground/surface transportation.
Health Effects
Individuals with pacemakers or internal
medical devices should use caution when handling strong magnets. Magnetic fields
may affect the operation of these devices.
Consult your physician and the manufacturer of your medical device to
determine its susceptibility to static magnetic fields prior to handling
magnets. All of our magnetic products should be kept at a safe distance from
individuals with these devices.
We are not aware of any other positive or
negative health effects from handling neodymium magnets. While there are
numerous anecdotal claims promoting the health benefits of permanent
magnets, we are not aware of any scientific studies that correlate static
magnetic fields with the cause or cure of human diseases. Individuals with
a health problem should seek qualified medical assistance.
Disposal
Rare-earth magnets should be disposed of
in compliance with local, state, and Federal law. All strong permanent
magnets should be thermally demagnetized prior to disposal. Alternatively,
all strong permanent magnets should be placed in a steel container prior
to disposal so the magnets do not attract waste disposal equipment or
refuse containers.
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