Hitachi power workshop grinders, buffers or polishers
1 report to CPSC, the latest made Jun 26, 2012. A report isn’t a recall.
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. CPSC’s own search is on saferproducts.gov.
At a glance
From SaferProducts.gov, released Oct 25, 2026.
- 1report to CPSC
- Jun 26, 2012the latest report was made
- Jun 26, 2012the earliest
- 1with the company’s comments
- Brand
- Hitachi
- Maker
- Hitachi Koki USA, Ltd.Makers, importers or sellers, as the reports name them
- Product
- Power workshop grinders, buffers or polishersCPSC’s product type: Power Workshop Grinders, Buffers or Polishers (code 897), in Home Maintenance and Structures: Tools & Hardware
By month
The numbers, as a table
| Month | Reports |
|---|---|
| June 2012 | 1 |
How badly anyone was hurt
- Emergency room 1 CPSC: Injury, Emergency Department Treatment Received
As each report says it, in short words; CPSC’s own words are under each.
The reports, as CPSC published them
Reports people made to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. CPSC publishes each one after sending it to the company named, and doesn’t guarantee they’re accurate. A report isn’t a recall.
Each report is the words of the person who made it, as CPSC published them. The company’s comments, where CPSC published any, are set apart as the company’s own.
CPSC, SaferProducts.gov public database export. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.
-
Emergency room Made Jun 26, 2012, sent to the company Jul 5, 2012, published by CPSC Jul 19, 2012
The product, in the report: Hitachi compact and lightweight 4-1/2” angle grinder with a rugged polymide resin body and die-cast aluminum gear casing. Weighs just over 3 pounds and measures 10 inches long. Has a 5 amp, 580 watt input motor. Used to grinding of metal or masonry, paint and rust removal, or sanding. Has a low profile head and compact body with a small grip perimeter and low profile gear case.
I am writing to report a safety concern regarding the Hitachi G12SS 4-1/2 In. Angle Grinder.
After sustaining a deep-cut on my right knuckle of my index finger using this machine (required stiches), I examined my actions and other contributing factors that led to this incident. I believe that several of the items I identified were directly attributed to the tools design. These items are listed below with a description:
1) Switch Position:
The switch is positioned on top of the tool and all the way forward on the tools barrel. The barrel is used as a handle to grip the tool. The location of the switch, and its use by the thumb to operate, places the index fingers knuckle forward on the underside of the barrel in a bent position and directly adjacent to the horizontal blade which is located on the underside side. When switch is operated by the thumb, it is pushed forward. The index finger is intended to be protected by the shroud on blade, provided that it is rotated in a position to do so. If not, when the machine is turned on, it can jerk slightly, thus causing the blade to touch the knuckle on the index finger. I have another model of Hitachi angle grinder and have used other manufactures angle grinders. the others, as well as many I have looked at, all position the switch elsewhere.
2) Barrel Shoulder:
The tool has a very short “shoulder” on the plastic housing near where the switch is located. The shoulder is not sufficient to keep the operators fingers from being forward near the blade. 3) Shroud Position:
There are no “stops” to keep the shroud from being rotated in a manner to allow the blade to be exposed to the operators lower index fingers knuckle.
In addition, I will add that injured me instantly when I first turned on the machine. This occurred while I had the shroud off. I did not recognize that an action of gripping the tool in a normal position and turning it on would directly expose the index fingers knuckle to the blade. I have also found that the shroud must be in specific position so as not to expose the finger. Note, when holding the tool, the finger is on the underside and out of normal view.
Recently when I used this tool, I again found the design to be very concerning in regards to safety and am thus looking to dispose ot it, even though it has been only used a few times. This use, and the fact that this tool and its design is still for sale, prompted me to submit this complaint.
Sincerely, [REDACTED]
- Model
- G 12SS
- Bought
- Jun 15, 2010, about then
- Where
- Lake Stevens, Washington: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 50, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Hitachi, made or sold by Hitachi Koki USA, Ltd.
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, Emergency Department Treatment Received
CPSC’s disclaimer
Disclaimer: CPSC does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of the Publicly Available Consumer Product Safety Information Database on SaferProducts.gov, particularly with respect to information submitted by people outside of CPSC.
Word for word, from the disclaimer in CPSC’s export.
Sources
Sources
-
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, SaferProducts.gov public database export.
Released Oct 25, 2026 and checked Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.
Reports of harm are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), on SaferProducts.gov. CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record.