Safety Warning & Handling Instructions — High-Force Neodymium Magnets

These are not the magnets on your fridge. Handle accordingly.

Sintered neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets are the strongest commercially available magnet type. Attractive force rises with the square of magnet size — a pair of one-inch cubes can require well over 100 lb of force to separate, and larger assemblies can exceed what a person can safely resist by hand. This bulletin covers the hazards and the correct handling procedure for every employee, customer, and shop-floor visitor working with high-force magnets.

100+ lb

pull force, common 1″ NdFeB pair

<1 sec

snap-together time at close range

Brittle

ceramic-like — chips & shatters on impact

acceptable distance from implanted medical devices, unhandled

01 — Know the Risk

Primary hazards

Every hazard below has caused documented real-world injuries. None require unusual carelessness — normal handling of an unshielded high-grade magnet is enough.

Critical

Pinch & crush injuries

Magnets snapping together, or onto a steel surface, can trap and crush fingers or skin between them with enough force to cause blood blisters, deep bruising, or bone fracture. Injuries are most common when two magnets are handled bare-handed at close range.

Critical

Ingestion (children & adults)

If two or more magnets — or a magnet and another metal object — are swallowed separately, they can attract through folds of intestinal tissue, causing perforation, blockage, or sepsis. Keep loose magnets away from children and never treat them as toys.

High

Shattering & flying fragments

Sintered NdFeB is hard but brittle, similar to ceramic. Magnets that snap together at speed, or are dropped, can chip, crack, or shatter explosively, launching sharp fragments at the face and eyes.

High

Interference with medical devices

Strong magnetic fields can affect pacemakers, ICDs, insulin pumps, and other implanted or worn medical devices. Anyone with such a device should keep a safe distance and consult their device manufacturer's guidance before handling magnets.

Moderate

Damage to electronics & data media

Close contact can erase magnetic-stripe cards, corrupt hard drives, disrupt CRT/older displays, and interfere with sensitive lab or medical instruments. Keep magnets away from phones, laptops, and payment cards.

Moderate

Heat, corrosion & coating failure

NdFeB demagnetizes above its rated operating temperature and oxidizes rapidly once the core is exposed. A cracked or worn Ni-Cu-Ni coating should be treated as a sign the magnet needs replacement, not continued use.

02 — Safe Handling

Standard handling procedure

Follow this sequence any time magnets above roughly 1″ in size, or any quantity of smaller magnets, are being unpacked, moved, or separated.

Inspect before handling

Confirm packaging, spacers, and shielding are intact before opening. Check magnets for visible cracks or chips — do not handle a damaged magnet without gloves and eye protection.
Never hold two large magnets bare-handed at close range

Keep them separated with the supplied spacers, or handle one at a time while the other remains shielded or packaged. Assume any magnet over 1″ can move faster than you can react.
Slide apart — don't pull straight

Separate two stuck magnets by sliding one sideways off the other rather than pulling them directly apart. Sliding breaks the bond with far less stored energy released toward your fingers.
Use non-magnetic tools for separation

A wood or plastic wedge, or a dedicated magnet separator, keeps fingers out of the pinch zone entirely. Never use another magnet as a tool to pry two magnets apart.
Keep a safe distance from medical devices

A commonly cited rule of thumb is at least 6″ (about 15 cm) between a high-force magnet and any pacemaker, ICD, or similar implant — but always defer to the device manufacturer's specific guidance.
Store separated and shielded

Store magnets away from each other, from electronics and data media, and from steel tools or fixtures that could snap them from a distance. Use spacers or steel shielding between stored units.
Ship and transport per magnetized-material rules

Magnetized product can require special packaging or carrier declarations depending on field strength and shipping mode. See the magnetized shipping compliance statement linked below before shipping unshielded assemblies.
Retire damaged magnets — don't grind or force them

A chipped or cracked magnet should be taken out of service. Don't grind, machine, or force-fit a damaged unit — this can release fine NdFeB dust, which is a respiratory and fire hazard.

Steps 3 & 4 in motion

Two magnets held flush together — maximum attraction

Insert a non-magnetic wedge at one edge

Slide sideways — never pull straight apart

Fully separated using far less force

Fixed magnet Magnet being moved Non-magnetic wedge

⚠

Suspected ingestion is a medical emergency

If a magnet — or more than one magnet or metal object — may have been swallowed, seek emergency medical care immediately, even if there are no symptoms yet. Internal injury from magnets can develop before symptoms appear.

Bring the product packaging or a description of the magnet(s) with you so clinicians can assess the risk quickly.

This bulletin provides general safety information and does not replace professional medical guidance.

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20+ years, 10M+ magnets

These are not the magnets on your fridge. Handle accordingly.

Primary hazards

Pinch & crush injuries

Ingestion (children & adults)

Shattering & flying fragments

Interference with medical devices

Damage to electronics & data media

Heat, corrosion & coating failure

Standard handling procedure

Inspect before handling

Never hold two large magnets bare-handed at close range

Slide apart — don't pull straight

Use non-magnetic tools for separation

Keep a safe distance from medical devices

Store separated and shielded

Ship and transport per magnetized-material rules

Retire damaged magnets — don't grind or force them

Suspected ingestion is a medical emergency

Recommended PPE & equipment