Wood Chipper and Stump Grinder Safety
Construction and general industry · Ver en español
Talking points
- Wood chippers pull material in at high speed. Once a hand, arm, or clothing item enters the feed rollers, there is no time to react. Stand to the side of the feed chute, not directly behind it.
- Feed material from the butt end first and let the machine pull it in. Never push material with your hands, body, or feet — use a push stick if necessary.
- Wear snug-fitting clothing with no loose elements. Remove gloves when feeding material into chippers — gloves can be grabbed by the rollers and pull your hand in.
- Test the emergency stop bars on the feed tray before starting work, the way the manufacturer's manual directs — a feed mechanism you cannot stop is the whole hazard. Know where the emergency stop is and verify it shuts down the feed mechanism immediately.
- Stump grinders throw debris at high velocity. Establish an exclusion zone of at least 30 feet (check manufacturer's recommendation) and wear face protection, hearing protection, and high-visibility clothing.
Ask the crew
Is the emergency stop bar on our chipper working — and does everyone know the exclusion zone for the stump grinder?
Standards this talk is built on
A toolbox talk is a short safety briefing. It supports the training a standard requires; it does not replace it.
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Sign-in sheet
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| Name | Signature | Date |
|---|---|---|
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