Wood Chipper/Shredder Safety Tips

Learn more about using a wood chipper safely from Cub Cadet

Using a wood chipper to manage your wooded area or lawn is a great way to save time and reduce debris, wood and clutter. While operating a wood chipper can seem like an intimidating task, with some chipper safety tips from the experts at Cub Cadet, you will soon be using a wood chipper like a pro.

Before starting your wood chipper:

• Get familiar with the wood chipper equipment. Take a look over all controls and get an understanding of their proper operation. This way, once the wood chipper is running, you know where the important controls are located. It is very important to know how to stop and disengage the wood chipper quickly.
• Gather chipper safety equipment before you begin. Consider wearing leather work gloves when feeding material into the wood chipper chute.
• Never operate this machine in bare feet or sandals. If you are thinking about using a wood chipper, wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and close-fitting slacks and shirts. Be aware that loose fitting clothing or jewelry can be caught in moveable parts and cause severe injuries.

Once you've powered on the wood chipper:

• Keep bystanders, pets, and children away from the machine for proper wood chipper safety and designate a safety perimeter that is at least 75 feet from the machine while it is in operation. Stop the wood chipper if anyone enters the area.
• The first rule to keep in mind when using a wood chipper: DO NOT place hands or feet near rotating parts. For wood chipper safety, stay away from the feeding chambers and discharge openings as much as possible.
• If the wood chipper feed intake or discharge opening should clog, never attempt to unclog or empty the bag, or inspect and repair the machine while the engine is running. Keeping chipper safety in mind, shut off the engine and wait until all moving parts have come to a complete stop. Once the machine has been fully powered down, disconnect the wood chipper spark plug wire and ground it against the engine. Then, clear the opening.

If you properly consult you operator's manual for operation tips and follow these safety tips for using a wood chipper, you'll have an affordable, efficient way to manage debris and create your own mulch. You can then use the wood chips produced to spread around your flower beds.