Chipper Safety Consensus Poll

[jomoco]

Okay, since we're the ones that deal with chippers on a daily basis, I want to get a hands on consensus on whether you guys are comfortable with the existing safety mechanisms on today's chippers.

With more and more cheap unskilled labor being used behind chippers in our industry these days, the number of fatalities involving chippers is growing at an alarming rate.

Some of you may know that I offered my patented chipper safety system to all the major chipper manufacturers for free back in 1998 following the rate of accidental deaths involving chippers jumping after the introduction of hydraulically fed whole tree chippers onto the market in the 90's.

The manufacturer's position on this important subject is that they prefer limited liability now as opposed to potential total liability if they incorporate a safety system capable of keeping an unconscious chipper operator from being eaten alive, if for any reason the safety system failed or malfunctioned.

It seems to me that their reasoning is flawed in that if the safety bar on their chipper failed, they would be in the same position regardless, which is why these safety systems must be rigorously maintained and checked on a regular basis like any other industrial safety system.

The key difference between today's chipper safety systems and the one's offered by myself (metal detection) and the Australian chap (RFID detection) to the manufacturers, are that the current systems require an alert chipper operator to activate it, where as ours are capable of keeping an incapacitated or unconscious operator with the proper safety gear on from being eaten alive.

The fatality statistics involving wood chippers today speak for themselves.

So the poll question is as follows:

Sould these chipper manufacturers incorporate a safety system capable of keeping an incapacitated operator from being fed through their chippers if the technology exists, and can be proven reliable and effective?

Should the chipper manufacturers reject advanced safety systems and stick with their current level of safety devices being manufactured and marketed now?


Thanks for your participation on this important subject.

jomoco

 

[OTG BOSTON]

Any improvement in the overall safety of chippers would be great.

 

[Tree Slayer]

Maybe we should put metal detectors on railway crossings, how about a sensor to make sure both hands are on a saw at all times,how about breathalyzers on all cars so you can"t drive drunk. I could go on and on. I believe if you are taught to respect brush chippers by not putting your hands to far in the shoot or kicking brush in them the newer ones are very safe.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

believe if you are taught to respect brush chippers by not putting your hands to far in the shoot or kicking brush in them the newer ones are very safe.

I've talked myself blue in the face on the subject. I think the recent death in Kenosha, WI has helped in my market though.

I think any system that will make it better is worth discussion. What about the after market? How easy is a retrofit? I know there are companies that sell feed adjustment controls as add-ons.

Would the metal detector work with foreign objects too? Magnetic debris in the wood, off the road, rakes & shovels...There is a very good sell point, it will also save the knives from large metallic FOD.

 

[jomoco]

Maybe we should put metal detectors on railway crossings, how about a sensor to make sure both hands are on a saw at all times,how about breathalyzers on all cars so you can"t drive drunk. I could go on and on. I believe if you are taught to respect brush chippers by not putting your hands to far in the shoot or kicking brush in them the newer ones are very safe.

Have you ever been to a commercial lumber mill?

Each log is run through a metal detector prior to being milled.

Why is potential mill blade damage and down time considered important enough to warrant the cost of a metal detection unit at these mills?

Is human life so cheap that our industry can turn a blind eye as more and more people get eaten alive each year?

Do you believe in hard hats, chain brakes on saws, chain saw safety chaps?

How about seat belts and air bags in cars?

I have personally witnessed 4 occasions where if a second chipper operator had not been present to reverse the feed rollers on a whole tree chipper, the trapped operator would have been chipped into the back of the chip truck or broad cast into an open field.

Have you ever had a friend chipped and attended his funeral services to console his grieving widow and kids?

Some of us have, and it sucks.

jomoco

 

[Tree Slayer]

Have you ever been to a commercial lumber mill?

Each log is run through a metal detector prior to being milled.

Why is potential mill blade damage and down time considered important enough to warrant the cost of a metal detection unit at these mills?

Is human life so cheap that our industry can turn a blind eye as more and more people get eaten alive each year?

Do you believe in hard hats, chain brakes on saws, chain saw safety chaps?

How about seat belts and air bags in cars?

I have personally witnessed 4 occasions where if a second chipper operator had not been present to reverse the feed rollers on a whole tree chipper, the trapped operator would have been chipped into the back of the chip truck or broad cast into an open field.

Have you ever had a friend chipped and attended his funeral services to console his grieving widow and kids?

Some of us have, and it sucks.

jomoco

Yes I have been to many mills some use metal detectors some don't, whats your point.
Yes I do believe in PPE And seat belts and air bags

I have witnessed two workers being injured by brush chippers. Both there fault, Luckily both minor because of the safety devices on the chippers and noing how to use them. All I'm saying is I think the newer chippers are pretty safe for what they are. Not saying there can't be improvement.

 

[jomoco]

Yes I have been to many mills some use metal detectors some don't, whats your point.
Yes I do believe in PPE And seat belts and air bags

I have witnessed two workers being injured by brush chippers. Both there fault, Luckily both minor because of the safety devices on the chippers and noing how to use them. All I'm saying is I think the newer chippers are pretty safe for what they are. Not saying there can't be improvement.

My point is very simple, if the technology exists to keep an incapacitated chipper operator from being eaten alive, a responsible chipper manufacturer has a moral and ethical duty to incorporate it into all their hand fed chipper models, particularly when that technology is readily available to them at no cost in terms of intellectual property rights/patent rights.

Each year I receive calls from attornies and families of people who have lost their lives in these grizzly accidents wanting to know why my chipper safety gate is not on the market and being used after all these years.

I confess that I'm growing a bit tired of explaining these manufacturers rationale of limited liability being preferrable to possible total liability if the system fails or malfunctions.

I just received a call yesterday about a decapitation in Indiana involving a 2400 Morbark that got me thinking about this depressing subject again.

It's my belief that it is in the manufacturers own best interests to voluntarily address this problem on their own, rather than waiting around with their fingers crossed and spending a fortune in attornies fees trying to avoid the inevitable multimillion dollar judgement against them.

Whether it's a metal detection or RFID detection technology or any other technology that they use to address this growing problem is not important to me, what is important, is that they make a real and honest effort to develope a safety system capable of keeping incapacitated chipper operators from being eaten alive on the job with their equipment.

jomoco

 

[Husky137]

Maybe I have rocks in my head but how does a metal detection system prevent a person from getting chewed up by a chipper? I'm not sure I understand how your system works.

Any piece of machinery is only as safe as the moron running it.

 

[jomoco]

Maybe I have rocks in my head but how does a metal detection system prevent a person from getting chewed up by a chipper? I'm not sure I understand how your system works.

Any piece of machinery is only as safe as the moron running it.

Google USPTO go to patent search by number, punch in #5667152 and it will take you to the chipper safety gate patent text itself.

It's basically a metal detection loop embedded in a composite material just prior to the feed rollers of a chipper, this means the feed shoot and housing must be supported structurally by heavy duty steel members below or above the composite coil loop housing, a relatively simple engineering challenge for anyone.

The chipper operators must wear metal impregnated gloves, hardhats with metal strips attached, and boots with steel toes or metal strips or arch supports.

In the event that any of the metal comes into the proximity of the detection loop, it triggers the feed wheels to stop feeding and the system must be reset before it will feed again.

The system can be adapted to any type of chipper, drum, disc, or even the older chuck n ducks can be retrofitted with it to cause a spring tensioned gate to slam shut just prior to the cutting mandrel.

Needless to say that rakes, pitch forks, shovels, lags, eyebolts etc would also activate the system.

jomoco

 

[Tree Slayer]

Google USPTO go to patent search by number, punch in #5667152 and it will take you to the chipper safety gate patent text itself.

It's basically a metal detection loop embedded in a composite material just prior to the feed rollers of a chipper, this means the feed shoot and housing must be supported structurally by heavy duty steel members below or above the composite coil loop housing, a relatively simple engineering challenge for anyone.

The chipper operators must wear metal impregnated gloves, hardhats with metal strips attached, and boots with steel toes or metal strips or arch supports.

In the event that any of the metal comes into the proximity of the detection loop, it triggers the feed wheels to stop feeding and the system must be reset before it will feed again.

The system can be adapted to any type of chipper, drum, disc, or even the older chuck n ducks can be retrofitted with it to cause a spring tensioned gate to slam shut just prior to the cutting mandrel.

Needless to say that rakes, pitch forks, shovels, lags, eyebolts etc would also activate the system.

jomoco

Sounds like a great idea but you still have to make who ever is running the chipper have that PPE on. Gloves with metal in them how long are they gonna last. I can see it now boss I forgot my workboots you no the ones with the metal in them or it's too hot to where gloves, I left my hard hat for the chipper in the other truck. how about some good old common sense..The chipper manufactures will never be able to install that. Maybe a camera mounted on top of the chipper linked via back to the office were someone has to watch the operator and if there is a problem they can shut the feed off via remote control. Thats it I'm gonna patent that one.

 

[John464]

I have an 08' Bandit and it keeps the operator quite a distance from the feed wheels due to the extra long tray. So you need to feed from the middle of the branch, instead of the front butt end. Also has the reverse cords , aka last chance, if one were to get sucked onto the tray. My requirement is having atleast two guys feed brush as a system. Looking out for each other so they dont smack each other with long dead branches and also in case one slips up the other is there to hit the reverse. I think proper training technique feeding the chipper along with today's safety features is OK. Sure things can be improved, I suppose, but you stick an untrained employee behind a chipper they will get banged up and perhaps eaten, regardless. The problem really isn't today's safety features. It is today's idiots, drunks, druggies, etc.

 

[John464]

.

The system can be adapted to any type of chipper, drum, disc, or even the older chuck n ducks can be retrofitted with it to cause a spring tensioned gate to slam shut just prior to the cutting mandrel.

Then why not already have this into production? Surely a catalog company such as Bailey's would vendor your product.

 

[lxt]

I dont know about this type of safety system, would never fly in the utility sector, gloves, hardhat & boots with metal in them around 23kv...GoodLuck!! there are other safety systems I think would be more effective than this one!!

But it is a good start & worthwhile, Good luck!!

LXT.................personally I hate seat belts & airbags, motorcycles dont have em!!

 

[Canyonbc]

I dont understand why you guys are against it???

Yes...there are idiots, drunks, druggies in this industry..why be against something that might save there life???

Beyond possibly saving some ones life...heck it might save your chipper from some damage too...

You accidently put a rake in the machine when you pick up a large pile of brush with your mini skid steer...this would stop it from fully going through...

Jomoco device is not going to be a big cost extra on new machines...dont even seem like much on old machines.

Dont see why anyone would oppose this....it can possibly save lives, save machines from being down...

Not looking for a fight, just some insight???

Canyon

 

[Canyonbc]

I have used...the new Bandits with the cord...never had to use one thank god, and dont no anyone who has...but just another innovation in the right direction

 

[Canyonbc]

I dont know about this type of safety system, would never fly in the utility sector, gloves, hardhat & boots with metal in them around 23kv...GoodLuck!! there are other safety systems I think would be more effective than this one!!

But it is a good start & worthwhile, Good luck!!

LXT.................personally I hate seat belts & airbags, motorcycles dont have em!!

Ya...i have to some what agree, what about something like a ancle braclet and wrist band....or rings..??? Something of this nature, light enough to where you dont notice it...but enough to trigger the machine

 

[clearance]

It has been said before and is true "Make something idiot proof and they will make a better idiot"
People that got chipped after having been shown how to use a chipper safely brought it on themselves and have only themselves to blame.
I don't mean to be callous, but c'mon folks, get real.
Jo, I respect you trying to help, but I don't want to see more Darwin stopping devices, I figure theres enough, at least for chippers.

 

[BC WetCoast]

WorkSafeBC (formerly the BC Worker Compensation Board) is in the process of mandating that all chippers with feed rollers be fitted with extra trip bars primarily at the front of the tray. Vermeer has a retrofit for this. I haven't worked with it yet, but it appears that it will be a pita as this bar will be tripped by most of the debris being dragged across it. It's designed to be tripped by someone's knees as they fall on the tray.

 

[pbtree]

Any thing that increases safety is probably not a bad idea, but I am curious...

1. How many unconscious chipper operators account for the injuries? Is there a statistic for this?

2. If operators are not alert and functioning properly without special metal safety equipment, there is no guarantee they will be conscientious about wearing this PPE.

3. The debate about liability is a valid one, like it or not. Many car manuafactures considered putting sensors in their vehicle to sound a horn or alarm if they detect a human presence and the temperature in the vehicle gets too high. This was to help prevent the death of infants and small children left in vehicle while the moron parents are shopping, etc. The problem is, if the system failed, that would be absolute liability. If there are enough claims like this, the company can go out of business - so who gains by that?

 

[STLfirewood]

I think we should remove all safety warning and let problems solve themselves. It just comes down to you can fix stupid. I understand on the really big machines that suck in whole trees. I have a 12inch Gravely Pro Chip 495. If you get sucked into that thing you are trying to kill yourself.

Scott