Splitting Operation
19
1. Put on
protective
clothing / gear
Wear the following protective clothing and safety gear:
1)
Eye protection
. Always wear safety glasses or goggles when operating the
machine. Pieces of log may fly out and serious eye injury can occur.
2)
Boots
. Falling logs can crush feet. Always wear safety shoes or heavy boots when
operating or helping to load logs.
3)
Gloves
. Wear snug fitting gloves without draw strings or loose cuffs.
4)
Hearing protection
. The use of ear plugs or other hearing protection device is
recommended.
5)
No Loose / dangling
. Loose or dangling apparel can become entangled in moving
parts. Never wear jewelry or loose-fitting clothing.
2. Lock & block
Block the wheels to prevent unintended movement of the log splitter. Check that:
1) The support leg and tow bar leg are both locked in the DOWN position.
2) The wheels are blocked.
3. Set to
horizontal or
vertical
a) Set to Horizontal
position
S
et log splitter into either the horizontal or vertical splitting position
The HORIZONTAL splitting position is used for lighter logs that can be easily loaded onto
the beam. The VERTICAL splitting position is used for light logs as well as heavy logs that
are difficult to load onto the beam.
Note:
Musculoskeletal injury can result from lifting logs onto the log splitter if proper lifting
techniques are not used or the logs are too heavy for a person’s size, weight, or
strength. In some cases, logs as small as 8” in diameter and 14” in length may be
heavier than what some persons should be repeatedly lifting onto the splitter.
The use of the vertical splitting position can greatly reduce the need to lift logs onto the
splitter. Employers are advised to consider NIOSH lifting guidelines when assigning
employees to log splitting tasks for an extended period of time.
WARNING
: NEVER change splitting positions with the engine running. You
may contact the muffler and receive serious burns.
Make sure beam is locked securely in the horizontal position by checking the
horizontal lock.
Horizontal Splitting Position
