Winch Safety Guide

As with every bit of equipment, winches need to be used safely! Improper use can cause serious injury or some major damage to whatever project you might be working on. To make sure you’re working smartly and safely, brushing up on safety tips and advice is a must.

Bringing all the need-to-know safety advice to one handy guide, keep reaching to make sure you’re operating as carefully as you can for safe and successful winch usage.

Winch Safety

Winch safety is vital to make sure you’re protecting yourself, your property or your project against injury or damage. Falling into three categories; you need to make sure you’re considering safety before, during and after usage with making sure your winch stays at top quality being a high-priority safety tip.

With some clear rules and guidelines to follow as you use your winch, the other tips to follow are simply about making sure to regularly inspect the winch before and after usage, checking over the rope to make sure it's damage-free and nothing will get caught up in the drum. We’ll go into more detail on the safety checklist you should be following below…

Are Winches Safe?

Short answer; yes! Winches have been used for hundreds of years and have got safer, smarter and more advanced than ever over the past couple of years. Our range especially prides itself in including the best and safest winches on the market which make careful usage even easier. Like every piece of construction or DIY equipment, winches come with risks that are necessary to know and be aware of. Safety must be a top priority and rules must be followed, but if you do that then it’s all smooth and safe sailing!

Winch Dangers

The majority of winch dangers surround the cable as the wire can cause serious injury. If the cable snaps or drops without any weight to make it fall, it can recoil at a high speed as it snaps back into the drum, risking major damage and high chance of injury.

You also need to make sure the load is firmly attached to the cable and the cable remains wrapped around the drum at least 8 times, if not the load can come attached. Any sudden changes in weight or tension can also cause the cable to detach and recoil swiftly.

Winch Safety Tips

To protect yourself, your property, the load and the winch itself; safety tips must be followed! Most are common sense or simple processes to add to your winch set-up routine, but could even save your life. Keep reading to see our essential winch safety checklist.

Winch Risks

While winches are incredibly safe, the dangers and risks are very real. Ensuring you’re staying protected while getting the job done, dangers surrounding the cable especially must be taken seriously and precautions need to be taken.

Winch Safety Checklist

• Check Your Cable – before and after using your winch, unwind the whole cable to give it a thorough inspection making sure to check for any kinks, breakages or damage.

• Inspect The Drum – make sure the drum is clean and clear with no mud or debris that could interfere with smooth recoil.

• Never Attach To Itself – Safe set-up is vital, with a tree strap or winch strap being an ESSENTIAL for safe set-up. Never attach the winch line to itself! The tension on the wire could cause it to snap outright or cause damage later down the line.

• Always Face Up – Your winch hook should always be looking up! This means that if it comes undone or falls off, the winch line with naturally fall to the ground with the weight rather than pinging off and flying around, causing damage.

• Weigh It Down – You always need to add a weighted cover to the middle of your line. This makes sure that in the event of a failure, the line will be forced to the ground swiftly to prevent injury or damage.

• Step Away – Make sure you’re operating your winch from a safe distance away, using a remote to control it and ensuring its off before getting anywhere close.

• Keep Your Hands Off – NEVER touch the winch rope while the winch is in use!

• Never Leave Unattended – Never let your winch run with no one around! Make sure someone is supervising or the winch is turned off if not in use.