With this weekend’s major snow event that rocked many parts of the east coast with cold and snowy weather, it’s that time once again to review some basic, smart snow blower safety tips.
When preparing your home for guests with a clean driveway, remember that snow blowers make removing snow a lot easier than shoveling, However, snow blower safety should always be kept top of mind and precautions used when operating a snow blower to prevent serious injuries to you and others around you.
To make sure you continue to stay safe this winter season, here are several smart snow blower safety tips to remember when operating your snow blower:
- Always start your snow blower outdoors away from windows and doors.
- Gas-powered snow blowers should never be started or operated inside a garage or shed. Even with the door open, the exhaust fumes containing carbon monoxide can be extremely dangerous.
- Pick up any trash or debris on your driveway and/or walkways before starting snow removal to prevent your snow blower from jamming or launching objects from the impeller. Clean up before a storm hits, as newspapers, rocks, toys and other articles can be easily covered by snow, making them hard to see.
- Invest in ear protection – Gas-powered snow blowers make a lot of noise and can cause ear damage, so purchasing a good pair of noise-deadening earmuffs or plugs makes a lot of sense.
- Don’t wear loose clothing – Baggy pant legs, dangling scarves, and other loose articles of clothing have the potential to get caught on a moving part of the snow blower, potentially pulling you in with it. Wear tight-fitting clothing and slip-resistant boots to reduce the risk of slipping.
- Keep your kids and pets far away – Children and pets can be accidentally struck by small objects such as rocks that can be launched at high-speed from your snow blower. Always keep your kids and pets inside while you operate the machine
- Watch the cord – When using electric snow blowers, be sure to use an extension cord that’s properly rated for your snow blower and be sure you have it plugged into a GFCI protected outlet with three prongs.
- Never put your hands in the auger and chute while your snow blower is running. When your auger or chute become clogged with too much snow, or with unexpected debris, fully shut the engine off (unplug electric models), then use your clearing tool (often included with snow blowers) to break up the clog. Once the clog is cleared, you can plug in or start up your snow blower and resume operation.
