Wood Chipper Results in Fatal Injuries

Mechanical and Safety Engineering (MASE) Product Failure Injury Report

Product involved: Wood Chipper

What happened: A teenager was pulled into a wood chipper

Injuries: Fatal crushing injuries

Recommendations: Wood chippers are extremely dangerous, and repeatedly pull people into the high speed chipping drum, with devastating results.  As logs are pulled into the chipper, branches quickly move, which can result in entrapment of the operator's arm, or the operator being pulled into the chipper from a branch behind the operator.  Wood chippers are being equipped with shut-off mechanisms or reversing systems that can prevent this type of accident from occurring.  Manufacturers continue to produce dangerous chippers without adequate safeguards.

OSHA/Standard violations?: No

Visit www.mase.pro for more information on unsafe products, and http://mase.pro/2009FC21.htm for information on wood chipper accidents and safeguards that can prevent exposure to the point of operation.