Wood Chipper Safety Procedures

This document outlines the safety procedures for operating wood chippers, including hazard controls and emergency shutdown protocols. It is essential to follow these procedures to prevent accidents and injuries.

General Safety Guidelines

• Always wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including safety glasses, hearing protection, gloves, and close-toed shoes.
• Ensure that all guards and safety devices are in place and functioning correctly before operating the wood chipper.
• Inspect the work area for hazards such as uneven terrain, overhead obstructions, and underground utilities.
• Never operate the wood chipper under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• Be aware of the location of the emergency shutdown switch and how to use it.

Hazard Controls

To minimize the risk of injury when operating a wood chipper, the following hazard controls should be implemented:

• Physical Barriers: Install physical barriers around the wood chipper to prevent unauthorized access to the machine's operating area.
• Guarding: Ensure that all moving parts of the wood chipper are properly guarded to prevent contact with operators or bystanders.
• Interlock Systems: Use interlock systems to automatically shut down the wood chipper if a guard is removed or a safety device is triggered.
• Lockout/Tagout Procedures: Implement lockout/tagout procedures during maintenance and repair activities to prevent accidental startup of the wood chipper.
• Emergency Stop Devices: Equip the wood chipper with readily accessible emergency stop devices that can be used to quickly shut down the machine in the event of an emergency.

Operating Procedures

The following procedures must be followed when operating a wood chipper:

• Before starting the wood chipper, inspect it for any damage or defects. Ensure that all safety devices are in place and functioning correctly.
• Start the engine and allow it to warm up for a few minutes at low speed before applying any load.
• Feed material into the wood chipper in a controlled manner. Never force material into the machine.
• Keep hands and other body parts away from the infeed chute and discharge area.
• Never reach into the wood chipper while it is running.
• If the wood chipper becomes clogged, shut it down and disconnect the power source before attempting to clear the blockage.
• Do not idle or operate the engine under light load or no-load conditions for extended periods of time. Doing so may cause wet stacking, which may result in premature wear of engine or engine failure.

Emergency Shutdown Procedures

In the event of an emergency, the following shutdown procedures should be followed:

• Locate the emergency stop switch.
• Push the Power/Emergency Stop switch in.
• Activate the emergency stop switch to immediately halt the operation of the wood chipper.
• Turn the Platform/Ground Select switch to Off.
• If an engine malfunction causes an unscheduled shutdown, determine the cause and correct it before restarting the engine.

Post-Shutdown Procedures

• Remove all load and allow engine to operate at low speed for 3-5 minutes; this allows further reduction of internal engine temperature.
• Allow the machine to cool down before performing any maintenance or repairs.

Maintenance

• Regularly inspect and maintain the wood chipper according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
• Keep the blades sharp and properly adjusted.
• Lubricate moving parts as needed.
• Replace worn or damaged parts promptly.
• Keep the wood chipper clean and free of debris.

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