Splitting Firewood Safety Tips
Splitting firewood was once a necessary way to heat our homes. Today, many choose to at least partially heat their homes with a wood burning stove. For those who heat their home with firewood a decision must be made about sourcing the wood. Setting up a stockpile before the cold weather hits is the smartest plan.
Splitting firewood safety tips
Splitting firewood can be a really satisfying task but it also carries a great risk for personal injury. Lacerations, amputated fingers, shoulder, arm and wrist strains are among the injuries suffered by wood splitters every year.
Despite the risks, many choose to split their own firewood. Once the tree is felled with a chainsaw there are two ways to split the wood: an axe or a modern wood splitter.
Regardless of the method, safety measures including proper safety equipment are incredibly important; one slip could mean a serious injury.
To split firewood with an axe you should always have the following items:
- Protective eyewear
- Safety gloves
- Chopping block
Good technique is more important than strength. Use the following steps to safely and effectively chop your firewood with an axe:
- Set up your wood on the chopping block
- Keep your feet shoulder width apart
- Keep your non-dominant hand at the base of the ax with your dominant hand near the head of the ax
- Never swing the ax around your body
You can save a lot of time and energy with a wood splitter. When splitting firewood with a wood splitter ensure that you use the following safety items:
- Protective eyewear
- Safety gloves
Use the following steps to safely and effectively chop your firewood with a wood splitter:
- Always hold the wood by its side (never the ends) when loading a log into the splitter
- Make sure the wood is stable while it gently eases it into the machine
- Never shove the wood in or use body parts to stabilize the wood
- Never split more than one log at a time
- Ensure that the most square side of the log is up against the blade
Whether you are splitting the old fashioned way or with a wood splitter, it is important to follow safety protocol. If you have been injured in a wood splitting accident, seek medical attention as needed. If your injury occurred on someone else’s property through no fault of your own, their home owner’s insurance may cover your medical care and other damages. If your wood splitter malfunctioned you may have a defective products case. Contact a personal injury lawyer today.
If you or a loved one is dealing with an accident or injury, you have enough on your plate. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
