Courteous and safe fall cleanup




The STIHL BG 66 L. A low emission, low noise hahdheld blower
for cleaning up leaves and debris in noise-sensitive areas

 

For most of the country Fall cleanup is in full swing. There is nothing like a blower to make short work of clearing your property of leaves and debris but there are some things to consider when operating your blower.

The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute has put together a good resource to help you be a safe and courteous user.

 

A few excerpts from the guide. The complete guide can be found at here.

• Always refer to your blower's instruction manual and understand all operating and safety instructions before using your blower.

• Wear all protective clothing recommended by your instruction manual

• Inspect the blower before and during use to make sure controls, parts and safety devices are not damaged and are working properly.

• Never modify a blower in a way not authorized by the manufacturer.

• Children should not use a leaf blower.

• Pay attention when using a leaf blower. Don’t point an operating blower in the direction of people or pets.

• Make sure bystanders, including other operators, are at least 50 feet away. Stop blowing if you are approached.



Many of the objections to blower use in communities is a result of improper blower use.  Courteous use of blowers is not only the right thing to do, but can help avoid backlash like bans on blower use.  The OPEI guide lists many tips including:

• Follow local rules and ordinances about when to use leaf blowers.  Do not use very early in the morning or very late in the day.
• Check wind direction and intensity. Never point the nozzle or bow debris toward people, pets, cars or houses.
• Always be considerate of people passing by and of property.
• Help reduce the noise impact of blower use by using the lowest possible throttle speed to do the job.



By properly operating your blower you can make safe and short work of your yard care chores, and get on to all the fun activities Fall has to offer.

For a complete listing of STIHL blowers visit the STIHL Blower page or use the interactive product selector to find the right blower for your needs.