Chainsaw Mishap

[Flyfisher]

No, not me but someone who posted on a tractor forum this evening. A timely warning as the wood burner season approaches

We all know chainsaws are dangerous and that there's no such thing as a minor chainsaw accident, so we use them with all due care and attention - don't we?

I reckon that slipping whilst holding an idling chainsaw must be about the most trivial accident possible - except that 'trivial' in this case equates to 20 stitches in a leg.

When using my chainsaw, I use gloves, a hardhat, visor and ear defenders. I don't have any kevlar trousers but I'm going to be getting a pair very soon!

Don't scroll down if you're squeamish.

 

[eezageeza]

Yes, you really should have chainsaw trousers - although kevlar is a jolly expensive option - and you should have chainsaw boots too. If you're buying a new saw, expect to pay rather more for the protective clothing than you pay for the saw.

 

[88v8]

Oops.
Must admit to using none of those things, but so far I only have an electric chainsaw. I do occasionally idle whilst using it though.

Ivor

 

[wobs]

A timely reminder indeed.
I'm currently considering getting one, but I'm acutely aware that the chainsaw will only be a small part of the cost. The PPE, and the training will be most of the cost, and then there's the "small" extras such as fuel and maintenance.

I may stick with the bow saw.

 

[skier-hughes]

If you are going to get trousers a coat is an absolute must as well, kick back is quite common and arm/shoulder injuries are a danger. I have the full kit, expensive yes, but I work it out in how much money saved from buying logs in, so a coat is 3 tonnes of logs cut.
On the other hand, luxuries!! like my new log splitter are measured in Jo's haircuts, it was only a measly 5!!

 

[philpjuk100]

It is so easy to have a lapse of concentration,it is a couple of years since I cut my finger and I am not sure how I did it! I was wearing the correct gloves but took them off to get my hanky out of my pocket and noticed a twig I had missed whilst "snedding" so I picked up the saw which was ticking over and cut it off,was going to put the gloves back on when I noticed the blood,no pain but I am left with a non working finger.I would like to think I am more careful,but am I?

 

[Flyfisher]

I'm guessing that modern chainsaws have a kick-back brake these days, mine certainly does. The other safety feature to consider it to only use the smallest possible chainsaw. I think mine has a 14-inch bar and is not overly powerful - plenty for the capacity of the saw but not enough to make me feel that I'm battling to control the thing.

I'm also pretty good at flicking the 'off' switch as soon as I've make a cut, if I'm felling something, or before I put the saw down, so I'd like to think I minimise the danger by only having the thing running while it is actually cutting.

I also reckon that being a bit scared of them is no bad thing!

 

[Ebenezer]

I'll stick to my bow saw! Keeps me fit too...

 

[Feltwell]

They scare the living bejesus out of me. I have an electric one, which stops instantly when the trigger is released. I confess to having no PPE, and I hate using the saw - if a bow saw can do it then it does, the chainsaw is used very very rarely and only then on the ground, never up a tree.

 

[skier-hughes]

I'm guessing that modern chainsaws have a kick-back brake these days, mine certainly does.

True, but there is kick back and kick back, proper saw kickback and your hands will stay in the same place the saw will kick back and you will hit the brake, but what happens if it scares the bejesus out of you and your arms move?

 

[Flyfisher]

On the few occasions it's happened to me, the saw has kicked up so quickly that the brake had been applied before I had time to react anyway. Even so, it has never come particularly close to me, which I assume is one advantage of using a smallish saw in the first place.

 

[Flyfisher]

Here's a useful tip about how not to start a chainsaw . . .



It reminds me of the old joke about having a scan to analyse the left and right sides of the brain and finding that that there is nothing right in the left side and nothing left in the right side.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Ouch!! A timely reminder, thanks FF. One of the companies coming out to quote for our tree work couldn't as the chap sliced into his hand and it became infected - last I heard he was in hospital on intravenous antibiotics. And he's a pro!

You have to get pretty nifty with a chainsaw when you've 250 trees, as there are here, but even despite that I'm now trying to get the professionals in for the felling - not possible with the logging, but with the lowish quotes I'm getting for the tree work I see little point Chris risking life and limb (quite apart from the fact I'm still waiting for jobs he promised to do 5 yrs ago...)

The thought of something going wrong is just too awful to contemplate!

 

[mattice]

Despite owning a chainsaw, we decided to get the professionals in to take a Sycamore down in the back garden today. An 'old chap' and a 'young chap' turned up. I thought old would send new up the tree, however I spluttered on my coffee as I looked out of the window and say 'old chap' standing on a branch with no hands towards the top of the tree slicing off branches around him.... no PPE/rope etc. We decided to go out for a couple of hours... Many would have frowned upon this lack of attention to Elf n' Safety, however I have to say I was impressed with his skilfulness and balance!

He saw my finger that I chopped a few weeks ago with the hedge trimmer (silly lapse of concentration), and he offered to come back and cut my hedges and log my felled tree! Mrs mattice said he seemed genuinely concerned about me...

 

[skier-hughes]

Did you see the DoE kids learning to be firemen hanging on to a moving fire engine this morning on BBC Breakfast, quickly followed by the BBC disclaimer, you wouldn't be allowed to do that today!

 

[skier-hughes]

And today I'm sat in the house with my chainsaw gear on, keeping me warm on such a cold day