Wood Chipper Safety: OSHA's Rules for Home Users

Never reach into a running chipper, keep loose clothing and gloves with cuffs away from the chute, wear hearing, eye, head and hand protection, feed branches butt-first from the side, and shut the machine down and lock it out before clearing a jam. That is OSHA's chipper guidance applied at home.

The hazards

OSHA's QuickCard: hazards arise when operators get too close to or make contact with the chipper; contact with blades, discs or knives can cause amputation or death, and thrown material can injure. It lists being pulled into the chipper, hearing loss, and face, eye, head and hand injuries.

Safe work practices (OSHA)

• Never reach into a chipper while it is operating.
• Do not wear loose-fitting clothing around a chipper.
• Follow the manufacturer's guidelines and safety instructions.
• Use earplugs, safety glasses, hard hats and gloves.
• Guard the infeed and discharge, and keep access covers shut until the drum or disc stops.
• Chock the wheels of a detached trailer chipper on slopes.
• Keep two tree or log lengths between chipping and other work.
• Use a lockout system when unjamming.

At home

Do	Why
Read the manual before first start	OSHA says follow the maker's instructions
Feed from the side, butt first	Keeps your body out of line with the chute
Stop and unplug or remove the spark plug wire before clearing	The home version of lockout
Keep kids and pets back	Thrown chips and the infeed

Chippers: gas, electric. All gear: woodlot gear guide.