Commitment to Safety
Safety in the workplace should always be the number one concern of every person at your organization.
Bandit Industries is proud to be a leading manufacturer when it comes to safety in the wood and waste processing industries, whether it be through educational seminars conducted at authorized Bandit dealerships, or through the continual research and development of equipment and features. Bandit consistently exceeds ANSI and OSHA safety requirements and recommended practices.
Regardless of the time and effort invested by manufacturers to minimize risks, accidents can still happen. In nearly all cases, such accidents are due to operator error. These errors are most common among established professionals who’ve become accustomed to equipment and take safety precautions for granted. Your safety, and the safety of those working with you, depends on your knowledge of how to properly operate and maintain your equipment. Never take the equipment or safety procedures for granted.
This section provides overviews for the safe operation of Bandit equipment, and special features on Bandit equipment that help promote safety. It is not a substitute for reading and understanding all equipment manuals, safety decals on equipment, and safety videos.
Do you need an instructional video for your Bandit equipment? View the video tab menu item on this site for the most recent operation and safety videos available.
Best Practices For Equipment Operation
This general overview applies to all Bandit Equipment. For specific procedures, always consult your equipment operator’s manual and start-up/operations and safety video.
Personnel and bystander safety must always be the number one concern. Always wear all required personal protective equipment, per OSHA and your company’s requirement. Do not wear ragged, torn or loose clothing, large cuffed ‘gauntlet style’ gloves, jewelry or anything that could be easily snagged.
Always make sure that all controls, shields, guards and safety devices are securely in place, in proper working condition and function smoothly prior to operation.
Never operate or work on Bandit equipment while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Always keep a fully charged, operational fire extinguisher nearby.
Never allow anyone near Bandit equipment while it is running. Any unauthorized personnel must be kept well away from the work zone at all times. Shut the machine down immediately if unauthorized persons or animals enter the work zone. Only adults should operate this equipment.
The area around Bandit equipment must be free of any objects that could obstruct the operator’s movement. Remove branches, limbs, rocks, etc. from the work area that may cause a tripping hazard for operators or workers. The operator must be located within easy reach of all controls and shut-off devices, and be prepared to react to an emergency situation.
Never allow material to discharge toward people, animals, vehicles or structures.
Never operate Bandit equipment that is in need of repair.
Never go near hydraulic leaks. High pressure oil can easily puncture skin, causing serious injury or death. Hot fluid under pressure can cause severe burns–never use fingers or skin to check for leaks.
Always use wheel chocks to secure towable Bandit machinery. Hand-fed chippers should always be connected to a tow vehicle when in use.
Never sit, stand, lay, climb or ride anywhere on Bandit equipment while it is running, operating or in transit.
Under no circumstances should anyone attempt to open, leave open or close the hoods, doors or guards on equipment while components are turning, coasting to a stop or the engine is running. This negligent action can cause severe injury or death.
SAFETY Features (HAND-FED CHIPPERS)
This general overview highlights standard safety items equipped on new Bandit hand-fed chippers. These features can also be retrofitted to older Bandit hand-fed chippers. For specific features applicable to your machine, always consult your equipment operator’s manual.
Pusher Paddle (STANDARD): Designed to assist operators in feeding smaller material into the chipper, the wood pusher paddle allows operators to push material from the infeed tray into the feed wheels without reaching in past the infeed hopper. It can be chipped without causing damage to the chipper. Under no circumstances should operators reach beyond the leading edge of the infeed hopper to push material to the feed wheels. If your push paddle is missing or damaged, replacements can be ordered through Bandit.
Last Chance Cables (STANDARD): Bandit’s last chance cables are located inside the infeed hopper. If the cables are pulled, the feed wheels will reverse direction or stop. Should a negligent operator fail to follow safety procedures and wind up in the infeed hopper being pulled towards the feed wheels, pulling these cables may be their “Last Chance” to avoid serious injury or death. The “Last Chance Cables” are NOT intended for use during normal, proper operation. Never reach into the infeed hopper to pull these cables—they are for emergency use only.
Line/Rope Shear device (STANDARD – DRUM CHIPPERS ONLY): The line/rope shearing device installs in the drum housing on Bandit drum-style hand-fed chippers and acts as a counter-knife. It’s designed to improve the chance of severing a rope, line, or similar item should it be drawn into the chipper knives. This patented device is standard on all current Bandit drum-style hand-fed chippers.
Lock Pins (STANDARD): All Bandit hand-fed chippers are equipped with a chipper hood lock pin, designed with a keyed padlock to secure the chipper hoods and doors in the closed position. Never use a homemade or make-shift hood pin system.
Engine Disable Plug (STANDARD): The housings for the chipping discs and drums are equipped with an engine-disable plug attached to the hood locking pin. When this device is unplugged the engine will not operate.
Hood Spring Lock Pin (STANDARD): On disc-style chippers, Bandit also installs a safety feature called the “Hood Spring-Lock Pin”. This item is positioned so that it stops the retracting movement of the hood lock pin if the chipper disc is still turning. The hood cannot be opened while the disc is spinning.
Safety Decals (STANDARD): There are numerous decals located on the machine that contain important information to assist in operating your equipment safely. It is necessary for all machine owners, operators and service people to be familiar with, and follow all instructions as listed on the decals. It is the responsibility of equipment owners to review these decals with all employees, and keep the decals in readable condition. Replacement and multilingual decals are available through Bandit Industries.
SAFETY FEATURES (STUMP GRINDERS)
*** Important *** – Never go near a cutterwheel while the engine is running no matter if the cutterwheel is engaged or disengaged.
Cutterwheel Bar (STANDARD): Located above the cutterwheel and assists with keeping operator away from cutter wheel.
Debris Curtains (STANDARD): All Bandit stump grinders are equipped with debris curtains that are strategically placed to reduce debris from flying towards an operator. Operators must always pay close attention in the event debris passes through a curtain or from the cutterwheel area.
Emergency E-stop (STANDARD): A red engine e-stop button is located on the machine and can be compressed to immediately shut the engine off. Machines ordered with a radio remote control will also have an e-stop.
Quick Stop Cutterwheel (STANDARD): All current Bandit stump grinders are manufactured with quick stop cutterwheels and will come to a stop within seconds of being disengaged.
Safety Decals (STANDARD): There are numerous decals located on the machine that contain important information to assist in operating your equipment safely. It is necessary for all machine owners, operators and service people to be familiar with, and follow all instructions as listed on the decals. It is the responsibility of equipment owners to review these decals with all employees, and keep the decals in readable condition. Replacement and multilingual decals are available through Bandit Industries.