How To Use Your Snowblower Safely
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Every year emergency rooms see many people with severe injuries caused by improper use of snowblowers and lawnmowers. Deep cuts, loss of toes and fingers, broken and crushed bones burns and even death have occurred to people of all ages but mostly to adults of 25 to 64 years.
To avoid becoming a statistic basic safety needs to be observed before you use a snowblower, remember to read your manufacturers instruction manual and also make sure that you have maintained your snowblower properly.
This is particularly important for gasoline engines so check the oil level regularly and always check the chute position before use. Remember a gasoline engine has its own risks. It produces toxic fumes so never run the engine in an enclosed space.
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Let’s be honest there are a lot of things to consider when you own a snow blower and many things can go wrong if we are not careful, which is why we’ve put together this guide – just for you.
Snow Blower Safety Tips
The news that Michigan state senator Bert Johnson injured his fingers in a snow blower accident is a timely reminder of the dangers these wonderfully useful machines can pose. As the Chicago Tribune reports, the senator’s injury occurred when he fell on to his snow blower, having been attacked by a dog. Clearly that was an unusual set of circumstances, but the effect (the injured fingers), rather than the cause (the dog) are what is worth focusing on.
These, then, are our top snow blower safety precautions.
- Tiresome as it is to do before you start please read the manual carefully and make sure you know how to use it before you even touch the starter.
- Never operate a snowblower, or any other machine, while under the influence of alcohol or any medication that can impair your mental ability.
- Always leave in place any safety devices e.g. shields or switch guards and always keep the feet and hands away from any moving parts.
- Keep your fingers (and hands and feet for that matter) clear of moving parts. Those parts are made of hard materials, they spin extremely fast and your fingers and other extremities don’t stand a chance. Keep them out of the way until the machine is stopped and switched off. Use a proper tool, not your fingers, to clear clogged augers.
- Don’t wear loose clothing, including scarves, belts etc., that could get caught in the moving parts. The rest of you, or at least important parts of you, could get dragged in too.
- Wear ear protection especially when operating a gasoline driven snowblowers.
- Dress warmly. Wear enough, appropriate clothes to keep you protected whilst you’re working. In extreme conditions, protect your face from exposure.
- Wear strong shoes or boots with good traction. These will help protect your feet from slipping and from any accidental contact with moving parts (see 1 above). Try these Wenger Yeti boots, for example.
- Wear ear defenders. You may have survived Led Zeppelin gigs in the Seventies or even Nirvana in the nineties, but that is all the more reason to protect the precious hearing you’ve still got.
- Wear eye protectors / safety glasses. Unless you’re clearing something like a pristine lawn (and why would you?), all sorts of things could be under that snow.
- Ensure your eye-wear doesn’t get fogged up. You need see where you’re going and what’s around you.
- Before you start, check that moving parts like deflectors and chutes are not so loose that they may move unexpectedly when under load. If you, or somebody else, suddenly gets a face full of snow, it won’t be much fun and could lead to all sorts of trouble.
- Don’t add fuel to a hot engine. The risk of fire from splashes is extreme.
- Keep children away from the area when operating the snowblower and never leave it running unattended. Shut off the engine if you need to leave it, even for a few minutes.
- Fill up the gas tank when the engine is cold and never fill up with the engine running or when it is hot.
- If twigs or other debris foul up the snowblower use a broom handle or stick to remove it not your hands. If the auger or discharge chute becomes blocked use the supplied clearing tool to clear it, never your hands.
- Snowblowers can throw objects as well as snow a good distance so ensure that there are no people or pets in the area. It would be a good idea, when snow is predicted, to make sure the area is clear of debris before the snow falls.
- Know your machine Ensure you fully understand how to switch off your machine in an emergency and that you are aware of all its safety features.
Snow Blower Safety – Electric Snow Blower
When you choose an electric snow blower it is likely to be for reasons related to convenience, ease of use, environmental considerations or budget. An electric motor is powerful and can cause injury and the addition of electricity increases the risk.
But once you make that choice you need to ensure that you know how to use your electric snow blower safely. After all, you will be working with electricity in wet conditions. So, it stands to reason that certain snow blower safety precautions need to be taken.
Electric snow blower extension cords, you will need a decent snow blower extension cord to give you the ability to maximize the areas around your home that you can clear. First and foremost, you need and extension cord that is specifically made for outdoor use. Such cords will be heavier duty than those used indoors. They will be properly sealed against moisture and more resistant to damage. You should be able to find one that is approved by the likes of the CSA or OHSA. Look for one with a wire type SJTW, that is rated to handle lower temperatures (e.g. down to -40 degrees F (-40degrees C). The gauge (or AWG rating) of the cord is also important. Always check the cord manufacturers’ ratings but, as a rule of thumb:
- A cord of 150 feet in length should be a minimum 12 gauge cord
- A cord of 100 feet in length should be a minimum 14 gauge cord
- A cord of 50 feet in length should be a minimum 16 gauge cord. The better outdoor extension cords tend to have reinforced blades to protect against bending. They also have a light at the female end to indicate that a current is present and are of a high visibility color, so as to prevent accidental cutting. This Coleman cable, available from Amazon is a good example: Coleman Cable 02469 14/3 SJTW Low-Temp Outdoor Extension Cord with Lighted End, 100-Foot.
- Always check that the cord is in good condition and there are no frayed places. Replace the cord as soon as it is frayed or has exposed wires.
- Periodically check that the there are no cuts or abrasions around the insulation of the cord and that the blades are firmly seated in position
- Don’t pull on the cord to remove it from the receptacle socket
- Don’t carry your snow blower by the cord
- Keep the cord away from any corrosive materials, from heat, oil or sharp edges Electricity supply You should always make sure that the voltage of your electricity supply corresponds with the voltage for which you electric snow blower is rated. Also make sure that the circuit and/or electrical outlet that you intend to use has Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protection. This means that the supply cuts out automatically in the event that a change in current flow is detected. Such a change will occur if a fault causes a grounding of the current through the snow blower operator (which is when a potential electric shock will occur) or if the cable is cut.
Other Electric Snow Blower Safety Precautions.
- Make sure your snow blower’s switch is in the “Off’ position before plugging it in.
- Don’t carry your snow blower with your hands near the start up switch while it is plugged in, in case of an accidental start up.
- Make sure all moving parts have stopped and that you disconnect the snow blower from the power before you attempting to clean, clear, repair or maintain you snow blower.
- Unplug and let your snow blower cool down, allowing excess water to drain off it, before you store it. Of course, most of this stuff is common sense, but there’s no room for risk taking with electricity and power equipment. Follow these tips and stay safe with your electric snow blower.
So, kit yourself out properly and keep your machine up to scratch and, barring the intervention of any dangerous dogs, you should be able to stay snow blower safe.
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