11 Ways to Stay Safe with Snow Blowers

A steady snowfall looks serene—until it covers your driveway and sidewalks with a blanket of powder. Rather than struggle for hours with a shovel, you can use a snowblower to clear your property in no time.

Snow blowers offer convenience and speed for homeowners and commercial property owners alike. However, to properly enjoy these machines, you need to know how to use them safely.

Follow these 11 safety tips every time you use a snow blower on your driveway or sidewalks.

Clear Clutter

When the weather looks clear, or you hear about a big snowfall on the way, clear any debris out of your yard. Don’t even attempt to snow blow an area you know has newspapers or lawn ornaments hidden below the surface.
Large pieces of debris can clog your snowblower’s chute, or damage the interior. At the very least, your garden gnome won’t look so good after an encounter with the blades.

Wear Earplugs

Snowblowers, especially gas-powered models, are very loud. You don’t want to end a season of heavy snowfall with hearing loss. Protect your ears with earplugs or noise-canceling headphones while you operate your snow blower.

Avoid Loose Clothing

A snowblower’s auger—the part that sucks in snow and ice—can easily suck in pants, jackets, jewelry, or long hair. As the snowblower operator, you should wear tight clothing and make sure nothing will interfere with the auger. Don’t forget about strings hanging off winter hats or coats.

Use Ventilated Areas

If you have a gas-powered snowblower, never run it in an enclosed area. All gas-powered machines emit carbon monoxide—a poisonous gas.

Even if you don’t plan on running the snowblower for long, take it outside before you turn it on. Some models produce more carbon monoxide gas than a car, so you never want it running in a closed garage or shed.

Watch Out for Cords

If you have an electric snowblower you have to plug in to operate, use an appropriate outdoor extension cord. You should also check your owner’s manual to ensure the extension cord you use will work with your model.

When you plug in, make sure you won’t run over the cord while you’re clearing your driveway and sidewalks. Avoid cords longer than 150 feet.

If possible, you should also use an outlet with a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). Remember, snow is wet, and water and electricity do not mix. A GFCI will immediately shut off the circuit if it senses a problem with the electrical current. In case of an accident, this shutoff could save you from a painful shock.

Stay Nearby

Never leave your snowblower running without you there to supervise it. Shut the machine off as soon as you walk away.

You should also never secure the dead man’s switch so the snowblower can’t turn off automatically. The dead man’s switch is the lever you have to hold down in order to operate the machine. This switch protects you in case of an accident, so never tape or tie it down.

Watch Your Fingers

Most people with snowblower-related injuries have hand or finger wounds or amputations. You can easily avoid these injuries with one simple rule: never put your hand down the snowblower chute or in the auger.

If it has a clog, you should first turn off the machine. If you have an electric snowblower, unplug it. Then use the unclogging tool that came with your machine, a stick, or a long broom handle to get rid of the clog.

Cool the Engine Before Fueling

If you have a gas-powered snowblower, you should never put fuel in it while the engine is hot. Gasoline can ignite under high heat, which you definitely don’t want.

Turn off the machine and wait for the engine to completely cool down before you add oil or gasoline.

Wear Good Shoes

Whenever you walk on icy or slippery surfaces, you need to wear shoes with good traction. This is especially important when you operate your snowblower. You don’t want a slip and fall to cause harm to you, or for your machine to harm someone else if you trip and it gets away from you.

Beware of Projectiles

Rocks and ice flying out of your snowblower’s chute move quickly. They can potentially injure anyone they hit. Projectiles can also break doors or windows if you’re not careful.

Make sure no one is close to your property when you use your snowblower, and turn it off if someone walks by.

Keep Kids Inside

If your kids run around and play while you operate a snowblower, you can’t properly supervise them and focus on your task. You don’t want them to accidentally fall into your path, or get hit by a projectile. Keep the kids inside while you clear off your property.

Snowblowers make winter chores easier for everyone. Just follow Hitch City’s tips for a safe and enjoyable snow clearing season.

Snowblowers make winter chores easier for everyone.

Just follow Hitch City's tips for a safe and enjoyable snow clearing season.