Training and Safety | Bandit Chippers and Stump Grinders

Bandit Tree Equipment is an industry leader in safety and consistently exceeds Australian Standards and international safety requirements and recommended practices. Every new Bandit machine supplied by us comes complete with the Bandit Operations and Maintenance Manuals, extensive Safety Documentation and Risk Assessment Documentation.

Each new machine owner will be trained using our exclusive Equipment Familiarisation Program which has been designed to provide customers and their operators with an introduction to their new equipment. This program covers key areas of machine operation including:

the operator’s manual
equipment components
start-up/operating/shut down procedures
maintenance procedures
troubleshooting (diagnosis of minor issues which may occur during operation)

These guidelines are designed to minimise machine downtime and help you to maximise your return on investment. This program is designed to be presented to small groups to provide all participants with a clear view of the items being discussed and materials being processed.

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. Even the most established professionals who are accustomed to the equipment can make a mistake if they 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.

These are some of the special safety features that are standard on all new Bandit hand-fed chippers. All safety features can also be retrofitted to older Bandit hand-fed chippers. Contact our Service Department regarding retro fitting any of these safety features to your older Bandit machine.

BANDIT HYDRAULIC INFEED SAFETY BUMP BAR (STANDARD)

All Bandit chippers supplied by us are equipped with Bandit’s patented hydraulic safety bump bar. Bandit’s Bump Bar is unique in the Industry because it has FULLY HYDRAULIC operation, unlike other brands that use unreliable electric switches to control the function of the bar. An operator can immediately stop the infeed rollers if they hit the bump bar with their leg or other part of their body. The bar must then be manually reset by the operator to commence feeding again after the hazard situation is corrected. The Bandit Hydraulic bump bar system can be retro fitted to older Bandit machines – contact our Service Department for details.

FOLDING INFEED TRAY (STANDARD)

Bandit chippers feature robust folding infeed trays to assist with transportation. The tray is fitted with patented lift-assist springs to reduce the weight of the tray as it is being closed. The folding infeed tray must be locked in the open position whenever the chipper is in use, and folded closed for transport. These devices must be in proper operation working condition at all times.

BANDIT AUSTRALIAN INFEED – HIGH SIDE-PANELS (STANDARD)

All new Bandit chippers supplied by us in Australia are fitted standard with infeed trays with high side-panels to meet Australian Standard 4024.1 – Safety of machinery. Higher side-panels provide operators with addition protection when feeding the chipper from the side of the machine. Older Bandit chippers that are equipped with old style infeed trays with low infeed sides – MUST – be retro fitted with the high side-panel kit to be legal for use in Australia. Contact our Service Department ASAP if your Bandit chipper does not have the high infeed side-panels as shown below.

Bandit chipper infeed high sides australia only

LINE/ROPE SHEAR BAR (STANDARD)

Tree climbers lines, work ropes and chipper winch ropes can be a serious hazard when used near a wood chipper if operators are not following safe work practices and safety guidelines. A rope or line that gets rapidly pulled into an operating chipper can cause server injury or death to operators, climbers or bystanders. Bandit’s patented line/rope shearing device (highlighted in red) is installed in the drum housing on new Bandit drum-style hand-fed chippers and acts as a secondary knife. It is designed to improve the chance of severing a rope or line, should it be drawn into the chipper knives. This patent-pending device is standard on all current Bandit hand-fed drum-style chippers.

OPERATOR SAFETY CONTROL BAR (STANDARD)

The highly visible safety control bar wraps around three sides of the infeed chute and hydraulically controls feed wheel direction. Bandit’s control bar system operates 100% hydraulically, and is more robust and reliable than the electric switches used by some manufacturers.

Bandit chippers operator safety control bar

INFEED EMERGENCY STOP BUTTONS (STANDARD)

Each new Bandit chipper is fitted with two high quality emergency stop buttons. If an operator hits an emergency stop button, this will immediately stop the chipper infeed rollers and shut down the engine. Once the hazard situation is corrected the operator must manually pull out the stop button to reset it before the machine can be restarted.

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 are in the closed position at all times. Never use a homemade or make-shift hood pin.

GUARDS (STANDARD)

These cover the hydraulic pump belt drive, chipper drive belts, feed wheel drive couplers and bearing retainer.

PUSHER PADDLE (STANDARD)

Designed to assist operators in feeding smaller material into the chipper, Bandit’s heavy duty plastic 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 pusher paddle is missing or damaged, replacements are available through our Bandit Spare Parts Department.

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. Replacement decals are available through our Bandit Spare Parts Department.

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. This safety device helps ensure the hood lock pin is properly installed, or the engine will not operate.

LAST CHANCE CABLES (STANDARD)

Bandit’s patented 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.

DURABILITY, PERFORMANCE & PRIDE: THE BANDIT LEGACY

“We build them big, and we build them strong. And we take care of our customers when they need it.”– Bandit Industries founder Mike Morey Sr.

This quote simply and effectively summarizes why Bandit hand-fed chippers are well known and respected throughout the world. They’re the best performing chippers on the market, designed to meet the demands of hard-working professionals year after year. Every Bandit hand-fed chipper is built by specialized teams using the highest quality components with solid welded construction. No corners are cut; no compromises are made. And when customers have feedback on chipper designs and features, Bandit listens. They’re simply built to be the best.

That’s why it’s no surprise to see Bandit hand-fed chippers still serving front-line duty for ten or even thirty years, racking up thousands of hours of use. That’s why Bandit hand-fed chippers have the best resale value of any chipper on the market. That’s why tens of thousands of tree service professionals rely on their Bandit chippers every day to get the job done quicker with minimal downtime for maintenance. It’s why Bandit equipment owners take such pride in their machines. And it’s why Bandit hand-fed chippers lead the industry for durability, performance, customer satisfaction, and brand loyalty.