Chainsaw Safety
Three important guidelines
Get safety training. Seriously. The small amount of time and money this will cost is nothing compared to the pain and lost-income a serious accident causes. Because quite frankly, I know folks - experienced woodsmen - that made one small mistake and it cost them big-time.
Read the label. Yeah, I know that you think you know how to run one but homeowners maim themselves more often because of simply avoided mistakes (like kickback)
Work with a partner. It’s a good idea to have some backup, just in case you need it and no experienced person picks up a chainsaw with nobody else around.
What about chainsaw safety gear?
Special personal protective equipment, like chainsaw safety gloves, goggles, earmuffs, industrial boots and a helmet are very important.
Heavy duty gloves protect you against splinters, general cut, bruises and they can protect against the chainsaw blade itself. A good glove will also protect your hands from getting nerve damage (a common tingling in the hand after handling vibrating machinery for too long).
Chainsaw safety goggles and face protection, (mesh is recommended) can protect against flying splinters and find sawdust, which can affect your eyes. Chainsaws produce huge amounts of sawdust, so they’re a very useful defence to have.
Earmuffs protect you against both audible and inaudible noise and reduce the risk of inner ear or hearing damage.
A helmet is essential overhead protection, covering your head against falling objects (important among trees) and giving some level of forward protection of the head in the direction of the chainsaw.
Safety shops have a special chainsaw helmet, visor and ear-protection built into one unit and this is recommended.
You will need chainsaw safety footwear. Heavy workbootas are good protection against any impact on your feet. They’re good ankle supports, too, and help you to balance better.
Chainsaw safety trousers, gaiters, and coats are also available as added protection they can help protect you from serious injury.
What sort of safety issues are there, when you’re using a chainsaw?
Most notorious of the chainsaw safety issues is “kick back” which is caused by incorrect cutting or support of the object being cut. This occurs when the saw blade strikes or catches on a surface and ricochets back at the operator. Normally when something contacts the top of the blade.
This happens so quickly that it is physically impossible to protect against it - which is why an operating kickback-guard is mandatory on all modern machines. This safety feature kills the blade motion when it starts its rotation back towards the operator. Never run a machine without a functioning kickback-guard.
Electric Chainsaws
While electric chainsaws can create all the problems of their gasoline brothers, there are some special hazards associated with them.
The cord, if cut, or damaged, can be a major hazard.
Cords are also susceptible to tangling, and some models, like the Black and Dekker, include a cord retainer like a vacuum cleaner’s cord winder, to help prevent any tangling and above all any contact with the cutting blade.
What about cutting firewood?
When cutting firewood, it’s necessary to have correctly placed supports, so the blade can safely cut through, and not become trapped, strike the ground or another surface, which could cause kick back.
What about climbing into trees with chainsaws?
Don’t do it, at all. Never leave your feet with a chainsaw in hand. This includes working from a ladder. Professionals always use the correct work at height equipment. If you do not have this equipment - then hire a professional. The life you save is your own.
How do I keep my work area safe for other people?
This is a really important issue, on any site where you’re using a chainsaw. Barrier off the area.
Don’t allow other people or pets in the area where the chainsaw is working.
There are real risks from falling branches, trees, and from the chainsaw itself, if someone happens to be nearby and there’s a mishap.
What about maintenance?
Chainsaws are tough, but they’re subjected to huge pressures when working, and that affects their performance over time. They really must be kept in good working condition.
The manufacturer’s instructions are your most reliable reference for any maintenance issues.
Professional maintenance is essential for all but the most basic needs.
Make sure your saw is serviced regularly, and always serviced after any major work, when the saw’s been under stress. For example, a sharp chain is the safest chain and it's a good gardener who keeps this tool very sharp. Dull chains rip and cause the operator to push downward to get a cut - and this pushing downward creates accidents. The chain should do the work, not the operator.
Chain tension is important. Loose chains can come off the guide bar and strike the operator.
What are the really important things NOT to do when using my chainsaw?
Don’t touch hot parts of the saw, particularly the exhaust, muffler. They can cause burns.
Don’t use the saw when tired or otherwise less than fully alert. Don’t push on the saw while cutting, it’s incorrect usage. It should cut without any added pressure from you, and you may actually interfere with the angle of the cut. (If you feel you need to push to cut, the blade may be blunt).
Don’t cut over chest height, because you have less balance and control over the saw.
Don’t put the tip into the wood. Saws cut with the flat of the blade, not the tip.
Don’t refuel your saw in a confined area. Gasoline fumes could be a risk to you in confined spaces.
Don’t forget to be careful when handling gasoline, which can affect skin or eyes, as well as being an environmental hazard.
Don’t try to do any work on the saw while it’s hot. Allow the saw to cool down before refueling, or any attempt at servicing or maintenance.
After use, check the chain, to see if there’s been any damage, or if the teeth have been bent out of position. Check the saw generally for any obvious damage.
When it comes to chainsaw safety - be safe out there people!
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