A basic safety requirement when working around neodymium magnets is to wear eye protection. No one really questions why they need to, but that doesn't mean everyone follows the rule. If you're about to start working with strong rare earth magnets like neodymium magnets, you should take the eyewear warning seriously. It doesn't take much for the magnets to injure someone accidentally. And if you need prescription glasses and don't like contacts, you may want to inquire about prescription protective eyewear if your glasses have any ferrous metals in them.
First a Note: Nonmetallic Eye Protection
That warning to have eyewear that has no ferrous metal (the stuff that attracts magnets) is no joke. All it takes is you leaning in, a few centimetres away from the magnet, for it to be attracted to that metal. At best, that means your glasses could fly off. You don't want to think about what it means at worst.
Protective goggles should have no metal in them, and if you need glasses, getting prescription safety goggles is a good idea. Neodymium magnets are very common and used in a lot of items, and of course you don't see people's glasses flying off everywhere. But if you've got the magnets out on a work table, not enclosed by anything, you can't take chances.
Ever Seen a Neodymium Magnet Fly Into Something?
Glasses aside, when a neodymium magnet is attracted to something, it's going to try to grab that item with great force. If you lose your grip on a magnet and it goes flying into something, it can chip or break because, despite its magnetic strength, it's actually a rather brittle material. Those chips can fly, just as they can when you chisel or cut other materials. Even if you weren't trying to cut the magnet, the magnet's ability to shatter can result in flying bits. Protect your eyes.
Removing a Magnet Isn't That Harmless, Either
If the neodymium magnet gets stuck to something it shouldn't be stuck to, you can remove it; that's not impossible. But you need to be careful to ensure the magnet doesn't drop and shatter, or that the force you use to remove the magnet doesn't send your hand flying back up toward your face. It sounds like a slapstick comedy gag, but if you've ever pulled at something (a stuck door, a wedged-in nail, a crisps bag) and suddenly seen everything go flying, you have to remember that can happen when working with magnets, too. Wear protective eyewear when working with neodymium and other strong rare-earth magnets.
For more information, contact a local company that sells rare earth neodymium magnets.
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