By McLaren Industries 
Skid Steer Trencher Safety Tips for a Safe 2022
The skid steer trencher attachment is a great one to have for a multitude of industries. Drainage, irrigation, electrical, and plumbing: all these fields benefit from having an efficient trencher in their toolkit. Trenchers are powerful and pose a great risk to anyone working near them at a given time. It’s vital to know how to best keep yourself and your professional team safe. Here are a few skid steer trencher safety tips to help make it a safe 2022.
Read Your Manufacturer’s Manual
First and foremost, it’s crucial to read your trencher’s manufacturing manual. Like with any other piece of equipment, these booklets contain key information about how the machine works and any tips for safely operating them. Among the pages, you’ll likely find specific recommendations for the safety gear you wear and what to do when your trencher experiences a breakdown. As such, they’re indispensable resources for operating your machine correctly and keeping you safe as you do so.
Understand How Your Trencher Works With Your Skid Steer
As you familiarize yourself with the Skid Steers manufacturer’s manual, you’ll want to read up on how your skid steer is compatible with your trencher. Part of keeping yourself safe from malfunctions and poor operating habits is understanding what not to do prior to using the trencher with your machine. Together, a skid steer trencher with your skid steer is a valuable piece of equipment that makes the most of every foot you dig into the earth.
Choose the Right Chain for Your Application
In getting your equipment ready for the day’s work, take an extra moment to ensure you’re using the right chain for your trencher. Depending on the chain you use, you may find it more difficult than necessary to dig into the rocky soil and clay. Using the wrong type of chain for your application can even lead to damage on our trencher, resulting in expensive repairs. So carefully assess your soil and digging conditions before you begin, taking particular note of how hard or loose the soil is. This way, you’ll make the most informed decision possible.
Assess Your Digging Site
As briefly mentioned before, assessing your digging site is a great way to determine the type of chain that’ll work best for your application. But this process is also incredibly useful for identifying additional hazards near your job site and removing them before you start working. This could be natural obstacles, like large rocks or plants, or even potential pedestrians and traffic. Also address slopes and grade angles the skid steer will be working. Because of this, it’s crucial to pre determine any potential risks before starting your operation.
Clean and Maintain After Every Job
One of the most important tips of all, though, is to care for your trencher following every job you use it on. From dirt to gravel to clay, all these materials can potentially build up in the trencher’s chain and harden. This can make it difficult for you to use it the next time you need it. Allowing resources to clog the chain in this way can also lead to premature wear, increasing the likelihood of breakage and accidents in the future. As such, don’t forget to thoroughly clean out this debris before packing the equipment away for the evening.
Along with knowing how to improve safety with your trenching equipment, it’s also vital to purchase the right trencher for the job. At McLaren, we stand by the quality of our skid steer trencher attachments. Every aspect of these devices works in tandem to dig and move dirt to maximize your results. They’re available in either low-flow or high-flow skid steers options. Give us a call today at (800) 836-0040 or request a quote online to learn more about our range of powerful and efficient skid steer accessories.