How to Operate Forestry Mulchers the Safe Way
Table of Contents
The use of forestry mulchers is one of the most profitable add-on services that landscapes can offer. Unfortunately, this can also pose some harm and risks if the user doesn’t take the necessary safety precautions.
Getting Started with Using a Forestry Mulcher
When you use any form of mulching attachment, it is important to ensure that it matches the capabilities of the machine to make sure that it can have an efficient operation. The machine must also have the essential high flow hydraulics and must also have the ability to handle the attachment’s weight.
The heavy lifting attachments also need counterweights for improved stability. The forestry cutter attachments must never be operated without installing a forestry guard package.
Operator Safety Tips
To ensure that the operator remains safe during the land clearing operations, it is important to equip the machine with a severe-duty or impact-resistant door.
Most operator’s manuals state that flying objects or debris as well as falling objects can lead to serious injuries or even death. This is why they recommend the installation of a FOPS or falling object protection system or Lexan polycarbonate cab windows with a thickness of at least ½ inch.
All the screens and shields must also be opened up on a regularly basis and the machine as a whole must be cleared out every now and then because airborne debris may gather in the engine compartment that can lead to overheating and turn into a potential hazard for fire. Similarly, the side windows and windshields must also be cleaned of any debris to avoid diminishing visibility.
Prior to evert operation, the operator must not forget to check all pins, nuts, bolts, and others for their proper tightness and location. The operator who uses the attachment is also responsible for getting acquainted with safe and proper operation as indicated in the user’s manual. Before lowering or lifting mulchers, it is important to ensure that the area is clear of any object or bystander. Bystanders must never be within a distance of 300 feet of mulchers while these are in operation.
Proper footwear and eye protection must also be worn at all times during operation.
It is essential to check the visibility as frequently as possible because some uneven terrains may have sudden depressions. It is also imperative to be cautious when operating a mulcher on uneven ground surfaces because the machine may roll over that can lead to minor or even serious injuries.
The operator must also travel at safe speed to prevent losing control of mulcher attachment. Speed should be reduced when driving on a slope, over rough terrains, or when turning to ensure that the vehicle doesn’t overturn. It is also a must to wear the seat belt all the time when operating this particular type of agricultural machinery.
When operating forestry disc mulchers, the cutter must never be raised at over several feet above the ground without taking extreme caution. Using a mulcher in elevated position when cutting branches of trees may lead to a serious injury or fatality when the skid steer ends up unstable.
