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Wood chippers, also known in some circles as tree chippers, are one of the best outdoor machines for processing garden waste such as tree branches and fallen trunks into tiny bits. This machine uses an internal combustion engine that can either be powered by natural gas or petrol. Electric models are almost unheard of since electricity alone cannot deliver the power required to process heavy timber. These machines are especially useful when your yard needs cleaning up after a storm or the winter season when trees shed their material as they are wont to do.
The wood chipper can certainly save you a lot of time and effort that are usually wasted if you were to dispose of organic waste the old-fashioned way. Instead of driving a truckload of timber to the local landfill, you can repurpose the waste into something that can nourish your garden. For instance, the shredded chips can be used as organic mulch for your garden.
These machines aren't that difficult to operate, and they are certainly very useful. However, they are also very dangerous when used haphazardly and improperly. You have to practice some safety measures to ensure safe and proper chipper operation.
Here are a few ways to stay safe while using a wood chipper.
Preparing the material to be fed
Do not feed overly large pieces of wood and other debris into the hopper. The larger the size of the material, the more danger it poses to people around the machine. One of the dangers associated with chipper use is blunt force trauma. Since the machine's blades move at incredibly high speeds, some materials fed into the hopper may discharge backwards. If a particularly large piece of wood gets discharged backwards and hits you, the combination of the high speed and the size and weight of the material will surely cause serious injuries.
Always check the organic waste that will be chipper before feeding it into the machine's hopper. Remove anything hard and inorganic such as stones and pebbles, pieces of metal, glass, etc. These hard pieces can cause a jam and the damage the machine. They may also be discharged from the hopper and cause grave injuries if they hit anyone.
Feeding the chipper hopper
Do not use your hands to feed organic waste directly into the hopper. Instead, use a sturdy piece of wood or a long pole to facilitate the feeding of material. Using a pole ensures that your hands are at a safe distance from the hopper. The closer one is to the machine, the higher the possibility of an accident.
Always be vigilant when around the hopper. One wrong move and you could find yourself being pulled into the rotating blades. Also, use the transport compartment when feeding smaller parts such as twigs and leaves.
Watch what you wear
What you wear can also affect your safety. For instance, wearing loose clothing can get you caught up in the material being fed and you could get pulled into the blades. Under no circumstances should you be wearing baggy clothing when operating a wood chipper. Other items that should be avoided include hanging cuffs, jewellery, belts, neckties, and other dangling items that could get caught in the machine. The last thing that you want is being pulled into the hopper and become mulch.
You also have to wear personal protective gear when working with a chipper. It is vital that you protect important parts of your body such as the head, eyes, ears, feet and torso.
Always wear ear and eye protection such as goggles and earbuds when operating a chipper. The blades inside the machine move at a very high speed and the possibility of debris and other material flying out is extremely high. The goggles will protect your eyes from flying debris.
The machine also produces high amounts of noise and wearing earplugs help protect against permanent hearing damage. Other personal protective gear you will want to wear include hard hats and steel-toed safety boots. The hard hat will protect your head from any flying projectile and the safety boots will protect your feet from heavy objects as well as improve your footing.
