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Snow Blower Guide
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Snow Blower
Safety
Safe Operating Rules for
Snow Blowers
The same caution should be exercised when operating
any power equipment as driving an automobile. The following rules are intended
to help you avoid possible injury or even death. Most safe operating
instructions apply whether you are using a riding snow blower or a walk-behind snow
blower, and should always be observed.
Before performing any service on a snow blower, such as changing the oil or
removing the blade for sharpening, pull the wire off the spark plug. This will
ensure that the engine does not start.
Also, always disconnect the battery on electric
start models. Do not alter governor settings. See your snow blower dealer if
your snow blower is not performing properly.
1. Read Operating Manual Thoroughly
2. Know How to Stop!
3.
Leave all Safety Features Intact
4.
Clear the Area
5.
Avoid Auger/Impeller Contact!
6. Never Allow Children to Operate
a Snow Blower!
7. Wear Appropriate Clothing
8. Give Your Snowthrowing Operation Your Full Attention!
9. Refuel Your Snow Blower Carefully!
10. Store Your Snow Blower Safely!
11.
Follow These Additional Snowthrowing Instructions
Mind the machinery while yous work!
Snow blower accidents lead to roughly 3,600 finger injuries each year,
including amputations, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The
typical cause: Operators try to clear a clogged auger or discharge chute with
their hands.
Manufacturers have addressed that problem with a handlebar dead-man control
that stops the auger and, on two-stage models, the impeller when released.
Many models now include a clearing tool for clogs. Because the tool is stored within
easy reach on the machine, it’s a strong incentive for safe clearing. A
chute-covering guard, like the kind on the two-stage Simplicity we tested, is
another safety measure. While the guard keeps hands out, it makes clearing
clogs more difficult.
Whichever snow thrower you use this winter, a few basic steps will help keep
you from becoming a statistic:
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Turn off the engine on a gas machine or unplug the motor on an
electric model before clearing a clog at the auger or discharge chute. Then
use the clearing tool, never hands or feet, to remove the clog.
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Protect yourself from carbon-monoxide poisoning by starting and
running gasoline-powered snow throwers outside, rather than in your garage or
shed.
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Don’t wear loose pants, jackets, or scarves, which can get
tangled in a snow thrower’s moving parts.
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Wear ear plugs or other hearing protection, especially with
gas-powered models.
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Wait until a gas model’s engine is cool before refueling.
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For electric models, use an outdoor extension cord and an outlet
with ground-fault-circuit-interrupting protection. Then be sure to keep the
cord safely away from the spinning auger while working.
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Snow Blowers
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