The most dangerous snowblower mistake is reaching into a clogged chute or auger. Stop the machine, wait for every moving part to stop, and clear the blockage only with the supplied cleanout tool or another tool expressly allowed by your owner’s manual. Never use your hand—even if the machine appears to be off.
1. Reaching into a clogged chute or auger
The discharge chute and auger can cause severe hand injuries. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says most snow-thrower injuries occur when people try to clear the chute or auger, and these injuries include finger amputations. Its 2012 snow thrower safety alert says to stop the engine before clearing snow or debris.
After stopping the machine, wait until all moving parts have stopped. Use the cleanout tool supplied with your snowblower if its manual directs you to, or a long stick as the CPSC advises. Troy-Bilt’s safety guidance says to remain behind the handles while clearing. Follow the procedure for your exact model; generic tools are not necessarily compatible or approved.
2. Clearing or servicing before the machine has fully stopped
Switching off the engine does not mean every part has stopped moving. Do not approach the auger or chute until motion has completely ceased, and never reach toward a part that may still be moving. For clearing or other service, use the shutdown and safety procedure in the owner’s manual. Troy-Bilt advises shutting off the engine and staying behind the handles until all moving parts stop.
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3. Running a gas snowblower in an enclosed area
Never run a gasoline-powered snowblower in an enclosed or poorly ventilated space. Its engine produces carbon monoxide, an odorless gas that can be fatal. CPSC’s 2012 safety alert states, “Never leave the machine running in an enclosed area.” Keep the machine outdoors while it is running, including when warming it up.
4. Refueling a hot or running engine
Refuel outdoors before starting the snowblower. Do not add gasoline while the engine is running or hot; CPSC warns against both in its snow thrower safety alert. Keep the gasoline can capped, and store gasoline outside the house and away from ignition sources, as CPSC also advises in its 2018 winter safety guidance.
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Snowblowers can throw objects, and clutter can create trip hazards. Before starting, inspect the route and remove items that could be caught or thrown, such as doormats, newspapers, sleds, boards, and wires. Decide where the snow will discharge so it is directed away from roads and people.
- Keep others clear: Troy-Bilt advises keeping bystanders, pets, and children at least 75 feet away. This is the manufacturer’s guidance, not a universal distance rule.
- Protect your eyes: Wear safety glasses or eye shields; ricocheting objects can injure eyes. Eyewear does not make it safe to stand near the discharge path.
- Check visibility: Do not operate when you cannot see well enough to control the machine and monitor the area.
These precautions are included in Troy-Bilt’s snowblower safety tips.
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6. Ignoring terrain, cords, inspections, or safety devices
Conditions and controls vary by machine. Read the owner’s manual and check the work area and snowblower before use rather than assuming one model’s instructions apply to another.
- Terrain: Troy-Bilt advises against operating on steep slopes and recommends caution on mild slopes and gravel. Slipping is a particular concern when moving in reverse.
- Power cords: If you use an electric-powered snowblower, keep its power cord in view so it does not enter the machine’s path. Do not confuse this with a gas snowblower that has an electric-start engine: Troy-Bilt separately specifies a grounded three-wire extension cord for those models.
- Controls and guards: Troy-Bilt advises disengaging control levers before starting, keeping safety devices in place, and never bypassing the auger/impeller control.
- Pre-use condition: Check the machine and its safety devices, and consult the manual for model-specific setup, operation, and maintenance instructions.
CPSC’s 1989 safety release reported that 4,800 consumers received emergency-room treatment for snow-thrower injuries in 1987, most involving hand or finger cuts or amputations during chute or auger clearing. That figure describes injuries in 1987; it is not a current annual estimate.
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