A 52-year-old man has been airlifted to St George Hospital after an angle grinder blade he was working with exploded in his face.

Emergency services were called to Lendine Street in Barrack Heights, south of Wollongong, around 12.30pm after the grinder blade the man was using "disintegrated", causing lacerations to his forehead and a suspected skull fracture.

“The blade has exploded and it’s fragmented and hit his right temple region, a piece of the blade is still stuck in his head and he’s got a skull fracture,” NSW Ambulance Inspector Norm Rees said.

“This man has been extremely lucky – his injuries could have been much worse.

“Very serious, but he’s stable at this time.”

Inspector Rees said the accident was a reminder to the public of the need to wear protective equipment when working with power tools.