Magnet safety entails how to handle magnets, where to store them, and the ideal storage environment. It is especially important when handling strong industrial magnets. If magnet safety is not followed, it can lead to personal injury or damage directly to the magnet, such as breaking, chipping, and cracking.

Magnet Safety Precautions

In general, you must follow these basic safety precautions: 
  • Wear protective gear, such as safety glasses and gloves to protect yourself against physical injury
  • Keep magnets away from explosive gasses, extreme temperatures, radioactive materials, saltwater, and health devices. 
Additionally, you must store each type of magnet in the correct environment. As a general rule, do not store magnets on metal shelving as it can cause them to jump or shift, damaging the magnet and potentially causing an injury. Here are some of the best practices for magnet storage, depending on magnet type:

Ceramic Magnets 

Ceramic magnets are prone to chipping, which means they should not be stored in cold-temperature or high humidity environments. If chipping occurs, small magnetic pieces may “jump” toward each other and become hazardous.  Similar to other types of magnets, ceramic magnets may accumulate magnetic debris on its surface—To avoid this, store them in closed, clean containers. Then, wrap the magnets in foam or cardboard to prevent them from being attracted to nearby magnets. If the ceramic magnet is large or has a stronger pull force, wrap it individually and consider using a keeper magnet to help it maintain its properties when being stored for long periods of time. If you're storing multiple, smaller ceramic magnets, alternate the poles, meaning their north poles face opposite directions to prevent them from repelling.

Rare Earth Magnets

Neodymium Magnets

If you have used neodymium magnets before, you know that they are quite strong! However, they are brittle and prone to chipping—They can peel, crack, or shatter if slammed together, which can lead to pieces being launched at great speeds or sparks being produced. If you're packing multiple neodymium magnets, be sure the poles alternate. If you have magnets with a strong pull force, use a keeper bar or magnetic shielding made of metal panels to “absorb” the magnetic field. Neodymium magnets are susceptible to moisture— make sure you store them in a low-moisture, low-humidity environment, and consider wrapping them in Vapor Corrosion Inhibitors (VCI) packaging paper to protect them from moisture and rust .  For more general safety information regarding neodymium magnets, visit our magnet safety guide. 

Samarium Cobalt Magnets

Similar to neodymium magnets, Samarium Cobalt magnets are strong but brittle, meaning they require low humidity environments to reduce the risk of corrosion. They should also be stored in a closed container with VCI paper and/or a keeper to maintain its properties. 

Magnet Safety With Apex Magnets

Like any tool, magnets are extremely useful but must be used safely—You want to keep your employees safe on the job, and you want to avoid unnecessary expenses from magnet damage.  If you have any questions about how to store industrial magnets, don’t hesitate to contact us.