WHAT’S AT STAKE

Chippers and shredders are invaluable tools that turn plant material into chips and shreds. On the other side, these tools are a source of injuries for workers.

WHAT’S THE DANGER

Worker fatalities have occurred in chipper and shredder operations. Injuries in these operations range from burns and cuts to major amputations and deaths. Common hazards include the following:

• Amputations or crush injuries from blades or teeth
• Catching fingers, clothing, or jewellery in pinch points or wrap points
• Burns from hot points
• Cuts, abrasions, and bruises from projectiles striking the eyes, face, or exposed skin
• Fire and spills when refuelling

Incident example

• A worker was killed when his clothing caught on the feeders of a chipper, and he was pulled into the machine.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

Woodchipper And Shredder Safety Protocol

• Before operating the equipment, read, understand, and follow the manufacturer’s operating manual and safety decals on the equipment.
• Make sure there are no bystanders or other workers who could be hit by flying debris.
• Set up the machine on level, stable, dry ground.
• Chock/block wheels to ensure the machine will not move during operation.
• Before start-up, inspect machine to confirm there is no debris in the feed chute and that the machine is good operating condition. Check sharpness of cutting edges, tightness of bolts, condition and tension of belts.
• Barricade area around equipment to help reduce the probability that others working in the area near the machine will be hit with flying chips or debris.
• Wear appropriate PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) when operating machines. This should include, but not be limited to: eye, face, hearing, and head protection. Wear full length pants.
• Remove rings, bracelets, and other jewelry.
• Inspect all materials to be inserted into the chipper or shredder to confirm they do not include any debris such as wire, stones, glass bottles, etc. Do not feed raked-up material into the chipper or shredder machine. Raked materials may contain stones or debris that could damage the equipment or result in injuries to the worker.
• Feed material trunk or larger end first.
• Do not feed short pieces by hand; place shorter pieces on top of longer pieces when feeding the machine.
• Recheck the sharpness of the knives and anvil if it becomes more difficult to feed the machine.
• Do not force material into the feeder – injuries could occur if a worker slipped and fell toward the feeder.
• Shut down equipment and wait for all moving parts to come to a complete stop before removing clogged materials or making adjustments. To prevent accidental start-up or operation develop Lockout/Tagout program for machine.

Responsibilities of Employers

• Maintain and repair chippers and shredders.
• Train workers on the safe use of chippers and shredders before they begin work.
• Demonstrate how the safety features work (for example, guards, shields, and automatic releases), and instruct workers not to remove any of these features.
• Demonstrate how to lock out the equipment before clearing any jams or performing repairs or maintenance.
• Remind workers about the PPE they are required to wear.
• Provide adequate supervision after training.

FINAL WORD

Chippers and shredders can turn hands and arms into pieces and parts. Training and vigilance about the dangers of their operation is the first step.