Safety

Machete Safety

When carrying a machete, pros always tuck the blade between their upper arm and their chest, with the handle projecting out the front. This way, if you slip you aren't going to seriously harm yourself.

Use a sheath to prevent harm, even a taped and folded piece of cardboard will suffice.

We recommend wearing eye protection, gloves, steel-toed boots, and long pants when using a machete. Have a first-aid kit around, and always try to be aware of your body's relationship to the blades trajectory.

Always check to make sure the area within range of your swing is clear and that nobody, or nothing, is standing behind you. Often damage happens when the swing is interrupted by an unseen object.

Always keep the edge away from yourself and others and be especially careful of your legs and feet while cutting brush in front of you.

If you are tired, rest before continuing. Fatigue produces injuries. Switching hands may be OK, but only if you are decently coordinated with your opposing arm. Try cutting backhand, away from your body, with your weaker arm.

Do not hack perpendicularly into the object you are chopping. Hack at a 45 degree angle, alternating between chopping in opposite directions to remove slices of material, opening a gap. This prevents the machete from becoming inbedded and stuck in thick, woody vegetation.