How To Use A Chainsaw Safely
Topics: chainsaw safety, safety plan, accident prevention, family safety, outdoor safety, safety tips
Gary knew a thing or two about ladders and chainsaws. He saw no reason why that troublesome branch, a mere twelve feet off the ground, couldn’t be removed easily enough with a few quick cuts.
He propped his ladder against the tree, clambered to the limb, and revved up the chainsaw.
What Gary didn’t know was that when he cut the branch, it would snap back violently and knock him off the ladder, and that he would land flat on his back, requiring a year of expensive and painful rehabilitation to his arm and shoulder.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, over 25,000 chainsaw injuries require emergency treatment each year.
Be Prepared
* Buy a chainsaw based on the type of work you plan to do, and with the best safety features.
* Read and follow all operating and maintenance instructions and settings. Review safety tips the first time you use the saw each year.
* Before your first use, attend a safety training course. If a course is not available, practice with someone who knows how to use the saw.
* Call a professional for jobs above your shoulder or off the ground, or if you have any doubt about your skills.
* Use leg chaps, safety footwear, snug-fitting clothing, protective gloves, impact-resistant goggles, and hearing and head protection.
* Use only a low kickback saw chain, and repair and replacement parts specified by the manufacturer. Keep a spare chain on hand.
* Do not use a chainsaw when you’re tired, if you are under the influence of alcohol or medications, or if the weather is unsuitable.
* Keep your work area clean of branches and other objects that could cause kickback.
* Clear other people and animals out of your work area.
* Be sure the chain blade is sharp and at the proper tension.
* Check safety features before cutting.
* Clean dirt, spilled fuel, and sawdust from your saw. Make sure the handles are clean and dry.
* Don’t work alone. Chainsaw accidents are usually serious.
* Use extreme caution when cutting small brush and saplings. Slender material may catch the cutting chain and be whipped toward you, or pull you off balance.
* Always plan a clear retreat path before cutting any tree.
* Stand on the uphill side of a log when cutting. The log may roll.
* Be sure your body is clear of the natural path the saw will follow after completion of the cut.
When The Cutting Starts
* Start the chainsaw only on clear, level ground, not on your leg. The area should be free of debris. Move ten feet away from the fueling area.
* When sawing, use a well balanced stance. Do not overreach.
* Hold the saw firmly: right hand on the rear handle; left hand on the top handle; and your thumbs locked around the handles. Lock your left arm while cutting.
* Cut with the part of the saw closest to the motor end, not the tip.
* Let the chain do the work. Don’t force the saw through the cut.
* Kickback is a serious hazard. Typically, kickback results when the saw tip comes in contact with a solid object or tough piece of wood; when the saw tip touches the bottom or side of the cut; and when the cut sections pinch together. Stay alert!
* Start all cuts at top speed (full throttle) and continue at top speed.
* Take your hand off the trigger between cuts.
* Be sure the chain does not rotate when the controls are in the idle position.
* Watch the moving chain until it comes to a full stop before moving the saw near your body.
* Set the chain brake when the saw is running but no cutting is being done.
* Turn off the saw and make sure the chain has stopped before making any adjustments or repairs.
* Inspect the blade for any cracks at least once an hour during use. If you find any, replace the blade.
* Refill the tank only when the engine is cold, and the saw is not running.
* Carry a chainsaw with the engine stopped, the cutter bar facing backwards, and the muffler away from your body.
John Myre is the author of the award-winning book, Live Safely in a Dangerous World, www.safetytimes.com, and the publisher of the Safety Times Reproducible Articles, www.safetytimes.com.
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