Wood Chipper Safety Flashcards

According to ANSI Z133, what is the minimum safe distance a bystander must maintain from a wood chipper during operation?

Answer: 50 feet (15 m)

ANSI Z133 requires bystanders to stay at least 50 feet (15 m) from an operating chipper to avoid being struck by ejected material. Shorter distances may be acceptable for crew members actively feeding material, but bystanders must remain at 50 feet.

Which type of clothing presents the greatest entanglement hazard when operating a wood chipper?

Answer: Loose-fitting jacket with drawstrings or frayed edges

Loose-fitting garments with drawstrings, frayed edges, or dangling cords can catch on brush or the chipper's feed mechanism and pull the operator into the infeed chute. ANSI Z133 requires workers to avoid loose clothing near chippers.

A crew member notices the chipper's infeed chute is jammed with a large branch. What is the correct first action?

Answer: Immediately disengage the feed control and follow the manufacturer's lockout/tagout procedure

Any jam must be cleared only after disengaging the feed control and following lockout/tagout procedures. Attempting to clear a jam on a running chipper is a leading cause of fatal entanglement injuries. Manufacturer procedures must be followed before any contact with jammed material.

Under ANSI Z133, which of the following practices is REQUIRED when hand-feeding brush into a wood chipper?

Answer: Feed from the side of the chute, not directly behind the material

Operators must feed from the side of the infeed chute, not directly behind the material being fed. This positioning allows the worker to release the material and step away if the chipper begins to pull too aggressively, reducing the risk of entanglement.

What is the purpose of the emergency bar or emergency stop bar found on most modern wood chippers?

Answer: It reverses the infeed rollers when struck by a worker being pulled in

The emergency bar (also called a panic bar or anti-kickback bar) surrounds the infeed opening. When struck by a worker being pulled into the machine, it reverses the feed rollers, releasing the person. Workers must be trained on its location and function before operating.

According to ANSI Z133, who is responsible for conducting a pre-operation inspection of a wood chipper before each shift?

Answer: Any crew member assigned to operate or work near the chipper that day

ANSI Z133 requires that equipment be inspected by the operator or a designated crew member before each use. Pre-operation checks cover safety guards, emergency stops, feed controls, and blade condition. This responsibility falls on those who will operate or work near the machine that shift.