Leaf Blower Safety

1
Leaf Blower Safety
2
Agenda

• Types of leaf blowers
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Maintenance
• Other safety tips

3
Types of Leaf Blowers

• Hand held gasoline
• Used by home owners
• Powered by electric motors or gasoline powered

4
Types of Leaf Blowers

• Backpack Leaf blower
• Mostly professional use
• Powered by small 2-stroke gasoline engines

5
Types of Leaf Blowers

• Wheeled blower
• Professional use but less versatile
• Powered by 4-stroke gasoline engines

6
Personal Protective Equipment

• Eye Protection
• Goggles are better than safety glasses because of
  swirling dust
• Hearing Protection
• Ear plugs You can find sound levels as low as 65
  dBA (the lower the better)

7
Personal Protective Equipment

• Hand Protection
• Padded gloves Vibrations from the blower can
  cause the operators hands to shake as much as an
  hour after use
• Dust Mask
• It is recommended to use a dust mask when using
  in a confined dusty space
• Do not use around other people. It can blow
  objects at them.

8
Maintenance

• Refueling
• Always place a hand held blower on the floor be
  for refueling.
• Be sure to mix the right amount of oil in your
  fuel
• Spark Plugs
• Spark plugs in 2-stoke engines need to be
  replaced regularly

9
Maintenance

• Keep it clean
• Be sure to keep the engine cooling fans clean
• Power cords
• For electric blowers check the cord for
  imperfections
• Check the GFCI on the plugs before each use

10
Other Safety Tips

• When use a plugged in blower stay clear of
  standing water
• Be careful after extended use to not touch the
  outside casing because blowers get pretty hot

11
Other Safety Tips

• Be thoughtful to your neighbors and use blowers
  at an appropriate time
• Always use a blower at the lowest necessary
  throttle