Protective workwear a must when using a chipper

Its the time of year when some of the larger outdoor jobs need doing. Some of these jobs look like they are going to be easy but without the right safety equipment and protective workwear, the simple jobs can turn into nightmares.

If you are going to be left with large amounts of wood from trimming hedges and tidying up trees, an easy way to get rid of the waste is to use a chipper. However there are safety procedures that should be carefully observed before starting. 

Ensuring you are wearing eye protection, hearing protection and head protection is important. You want to make sure that you are not going to be hit by flying pieces of wood and that your ears are protected when standing in close proximity to a loud piece of equipment.

It is also important to make sure that any loose bits of clothing are tucked in, so they don't get caught in the machine. Although wearing hand protection is a must, you don't want to be putting your hands too close to the machine. Use a long stick or pole to feed the material into the chipper; this means that you are able to stay away from the feed chute area and so avoid being pulled into the machine. 

Make sure you clean up the chippings regularly, to avoid any trips or falls.

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