The victim was Gabriel Gonzales-Ferrer, 24, of the city of Orange, Calif., authorities said.

More than 30 landscaping workers have died in chipper incidents since 1992, according to a Journal of the American Medical Association report.

The grisly incident has been much commented on in web chat rooms. ?EUR??,,????'?????<

The Tustin victim ?EUR??,,????'?????< Authorities took the wood chipper and the truck to which it was attached to a parking structure at the Orange County coroner?EUR??,,????'?????<There was no immediate evidence of a crime or that alcohol or drugs were involved, Welch said.

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The accident, which occurred about 4 p.m. Wednesday in the 2600 block of Palmetto, is being investigated by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, authorities said

Jose Martinez, owner of JM Tree Service in Anaheim where the men were employed, said Thursday that he was too distraught to talk. ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Thirty-one people were killed in wood-chipper accidents between 1992 and 2002, according to a 2005 report by the Journal of the American Medical Assn.

Reducing the Risk

Carelessness around wood chippers has been a factor in close to three-dozen fatal accidents over the past 15 years. The following safety tips are adapted from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln?EUR??,,????'?????<

Rule No. 1
DO NOT put hands or feet into the in-feed hopper. Use a pusher-stick to feed material into the chipper blades.

Selecting the Work Area

• Select a level and firm surface to stabilize the machine. Position the chipper so that operators do not have to stand on embankments/slopes when feeding material into the machine.

• Keep the area around the wood chipper free of tripping hazards.

• Ensure ventilation is adequate and any exhaust fumes are vented into open air if working in an enclosed space.

• Erect warning signs and barriers as necessary to keep the public a safe distance from work area.

• Ensure the dislodging chute is positioned to prevent chips from being blown in any direction where they can affect co-workers, members of the public, or roadways.

Safety Precautions for Chipper Knives

• Wear a hard hat, sturdy slip-resistant footwear, eye protection, hearing protection, and close fitting clothing (e.g. gloves without cuffs, pants without cuffs, shirtsleeves buttoned and shirts tucked in) when working with this equipment.

• Read the operator?EUR??,,????'?????<

• Do not work alone when using this equipment.

• Make sure all safety and emergency shut-off devices are tested and determined to be functioning properly before operating the equipment.

• Check the material to be chipped to ensure that it is free from stones, metal, and other foreign objects.

• Load small leaves and twigs directly into the chip truck, not into the hopper.

• Work to the side of the machine where there is ready access to the emergency shut-off.

• Lay short material on top of long material or use a long branch to push in short material.

• Feed brush and limbs butt-end first into the in-feed hopper.

• Walk away once the feed mechanism has grabbed the material.

• Follow the manufacturer?EUR??,,????'?????<

• Remove the engine start key when the machine is left unattended and prior to maintenance activities.

Maintenance for Safety

• Inspect wood chippers each working day before startup for defects such as broken or missing hood latches and pins or cracked and worn hinges. Broken, damaged, or missing machine components should be repaired or replaced before the machine is placed in service.

• If the machine is defective, tag it with a ?EUR??,,????'?????<

• Make sure the hood covering the chipper knives is completely closed and latched according to manufacturer?EUR??,,????'?????<

• Before processing material and unless the manufacturer recommends otherwise, run the machine at the lowest possible speed and listen for noises that might indicate broken or loose machine parts.

• If unusual noises are detected, shut-down the machine immediately and have it inspected/evaluated/repaired by a competent person before placing it back in service.

• Allow all internal machine parts to come to a complete stop before opening the hood covering the chipper disc or drum.

• Check the chipping components and knives each day for damage and wear.

• Wear gloves when handling the knives.

• Knives must be changed or reversed if damaged or blunt. Knives should be replaced when worn to the minimum size specified by the manufacturer.

• When new/sharpened knives are fitted, maintain the recommended clearance between the knives and anvil.