Abstract: An automatic shutoff woodchipper having a blade for shredding material fed into the woodchipper, a motor to drive the blade, and a feed chute to direct material to the blade for shredding. An electronic sensor in the mouth of the feed chute sends an electronic proximity signal to an electronic controller when a signal device worn by an operator, detectable by the sensor, closes to within a predetermined distance from the sensor. Upon receiving the electronic proximity signal from the electronic sensor, the electronic controller generates an electronic shutoff signal that automatically halts the operation of the blade.