Essential Snowblower Safety Tips From Industry Leader

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - First, let me say that I was once injured while using a snowblower that required surgery on my hand and a lengthy program of recuperation, so when I tackle a story about snowblower safety, I have some personal experience.

That being said, I spoke with Kris Kiser on Friday. He is the President of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute who provided some very helpful advice, especially for those who are dragging out their snowblowers for the first time this winter. He started with the basics.

Snowblower Safety Tips from the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute

“Run it dry, run the fuel out of it, store it in a dry place, try to keep it dry through the season,” began Kiser. “What's key, particularly for a fueled piece of equipment, is fuel, fresh fuel. Fuel will go bad nowadays, especially if it's got ethanol, and it'll phase separately once it absorbs enough water. So the key there is fresh fuel, if you've run it dry, they require minimal maintenance.”

Kiser said, as with every use of power equipment, safety is the number one factor.

As With All Power Equipment, Safety is the Key Factor

“We typically know when the snow is coming, right?” “You know where you're going to snow throw. However, get out there and eyeball the driveway or the walk, because that machine, once the snow covers everything, you're not going to be able to see the ground, and that machine is going to find the dog toys and the garden hose and sticks, which are not good for the toys, and not good for the machine. So eyeball that. But planning is the key. Make sure you have fresh fuel.”

Blowing snow means your sidewalk or driveway will be slick or icy, so start with the proper footwear, hat, gloves, and goggles, if necessary.

“Footwear is key, right?” he asked.  “You don't want to slip, you don't want to fall. If you're cold, you want to make sure that you have appropriate weather clothing like gloves. Protect your hands, and protect your eyes, but importantly, wear good shoes for proper footing. It's challenging. The machines are typically powerful. They'll do the work. You’ve got to aim them, but typically they're self-driven. It's a big, powerful machine, but they're designed to let the machine do the work, and you just need to steer it.”

Finally, Kiser had tips to think about through the rest of the winter.

Now that We've Had Our First Real Snowfall Remove it With Care

“Plan for the storm,” he said. “Make sure you have fresh fuel on hand. You might lose power. You might not be able to get fuel, or actually get to a fuel station, but make sure your batteries (for an electric snowblower) are charged in advance. The other thing is, give it a trial run. I just did mine today. Get it out. Make sure the tires are inflated. Get fresh fuel and make sure it's running in advance. These are things you don't want to necessarily do after the storm, and importantly, dress for it. If you're outside, you're working in inclement weather, so dress appropriately. Be safe.”

Speaking as one who has the scars of experience, take Kiser's advice and read the snowblower manual thoroughly before you start.