9 Simple Safety Tips for Wood Chippers

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Wood chippers are commonly used to turn parts of wood into small bits and pieces. The machine may be used to clear an area of debris such as fallen branches and dead tree limbs, which can be especially common after weather events such as a storm. You might also use a wood chipper to clear a failed yard of overgrown bush and tiny trees. Now you have a clean lawn free of blockages along with a mountain of wood chips you can use as mulch.

Workers feed wood to the chipper where rotating knives moving at speeds of 1000-2000 RPM chop up the branches, tree limbs and trunk pieces till they are reduced into small thin chips. A wood chipper requires huge amounts of power to work, which comes from an internal combustion engine powered by petrol or gas.

Employing a wood chipper will save you lots of time and effort compared to individually chopping each piece to size using an axe or a chainsaw. All that raw power also requires a lot of responsibility on the consumer's part. Failure to prepare and follow safety guidelines can end in a grisly injury or even death.

Whether you're new to wood chippers or an experienced operator, it pays to educate yourself regarding the safe and appropriate functioning of a wood chipper. Here are a couple of safety tips for you to get started.

1. Always read the literature

You should read and understand the operator's manual as well as any other related literature. The manual contains everything you want to know about the machine: technical specifications, operational limitations, machine parts and safety instructions. A wood chipper has lots of moving parts and it is worth it to be aware of the usefulness and potential risks posed by each component.

2. Wear proper equipment

Wear tight-fitting, short-sleeved clothing when working on a wood chipper. Make sure your shirt and pants are properly tucked and remove anything that might get caught up in the machines like jewellery, belts, ties, straps and other hanging items. Ensure that your clothes are cuff-free as well.

Wearing personal protective equipment is essential if using a chipper, and in many states and authorities, required by regulations. Standard safety gear when operating a wood chipper includes a hard hat, safety goggles, ear protection, heavy-duty cuff-free work gloves and steel-toed boots.

The vast majority of wood chipper deaths occur when the operator becomes captured and destroyed by the feeding mechanism and cutting knives. Eliminate all chances where your clothes may get snagged in the timber being fed into the chipper.

3. Check before use

Make it a point to inspect every part of the wood chipper before surgery. Don't use the machine if you see any cracks or flaws like worn hinges and broken hood latches. Make certain all bolts and screws are tight. Test all safety controls and devices to verify they're in proper working condition.

4. Set a safety zone

Clear the area of bystanders, children and animals before starting the system. Establish a security perimeter of at least 10m in all directions around the wood chipper, and make certain that the perimeter is clearly marked by warning devices such as cones, barricades and signs. Immediately switch off the machine if you see someone coming.

5. Clean and clear the area

Remove all obstructions and tripping hazards around the wood chipper. Keep the area around the machine clean and free for simple and unobstructed movement.

Don't let the wood chips stack up, and turn off the machine if the heap has gotten too large so that it could be emptied and stored somewhere far from the chipper. This will reduce the risk of slipping and falling around the machine.

6. Work in tandem

Wood chipper operators should always operate in teams of two or more. Never run the chipper alone. While one is feeding wood to the wood chipper, the other one needs to be on alert near the console, emergency stop button or similar safety devices.

7. Start slow

When you're about to start operation of this wood chipper, run it at the lowest available speed first. Listen to the noise from the chipper. If you hear any unusual sounds, then there might be broken or loose components inside and you've got to immediately switch off the machine. Have it inspected and repaired by an expert.

8. Watch the load

Feeding the wood chipper too big and wide pieces of wood can increase the risk of harm to the employees and damage the machine. Only load material that falls within the limits of your wood chipper. If needed, cut the timber to size prior to feeding it into the chipper.

9. Keep distance

Don't linger close to the wood chipper and keep some distance away when the machine has grabbed the timber you just inserted. This lowers the chances of you getting caught up together with the wood and ground up into little pieces along with it.