Do you know approximately what percentage of all woods
accidents in a year are typically the
result of a chain saw cut?
30 Percent
Do you know how fast a chain saw blade can move at full
throttle?
45 MPH
Do you know which age group of operators are at the
greatest risk for injury?
Younger Operators
Do you know how many of all chain saw accidents could be
prevented?
Almost all of them
Chain saws are powerful tools that make your job of
cutting firewood and fallen trees and
removing small trees much easier. But their power makes
them very dangerous tools.
Most accidents are the result of a moving chain contacting
the operator in some way.
The good news for you is that there are several things you
can do to keep yourself from becoming a victim.
YOU
ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR OF
YOUR OWN SAFETY. HOW?
1. Know your saw
and how to operate it before you use it. That means reading and
understanding
your operator's manual. If there are instructions you do not understand, talk
to
your chain
saw dealer or to someone who is very familiar with how to use your chain saw.
2. Take the time
to prepare for the job. This includes several factors discussed in this
information
fact sheet and probably in your owner's manual.
3. Practice!
Begin with logs on which you can make trial cuts to get the feel of your saw
and
the way it
handles.
4. NEVER WORK
ALONE! At least be within yelling distance of help.
Even if you have used your saw a few times before, or
you've used it once a year for the
past several years, these are still important steps to
take and precautions to think about.
WHAT SAW SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?
The best saw for you is the one you can comfortably handle
and is appropriate for the
type of work you do most often. There are also many safety
features you should look for. NOTE that these features do not prevent
accidents, they only reduce the risk to you.
Lightweight saws Good
for occasional use: cutting limbs, firewood and small trees.
Midweight saws Better
for more frequent use.
Heavyweight saws For PROFESSIONAL use only.
ANTI KICKBACK DEVICES
Chain brake
stops the chain if kickback occurs. This can mean the difference between
possibly a speed of 45 MPH and 0 MPH if the chain actually contacts you.
Throttle Interlock
prevents the throttle from accidentally advancing or inadvertently moving by
automatically returning the throttle and chain to idle
when the trigger button is released.
Hand Guard will
keep the left hand from slipping into the chain.
Balance is not
a device, but something to look for. You can maintain better control over the
saw
that is well balanced in your hand if kickback occurs.
Anti-kickback
chains reduce the forces on the chain that cause kickback.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO TO PREPARE FOR
CUTTING?
CLEAR YOUR WORK
AREA: Make sure there are no nails in the wood or loose objects in
the area where you are cutting, such as twigs, brush,
leaves and stones.
CHECK YOUR CHAIN'S
CONDITION AND SHARPNESS: (Follow the instructions in
your manual and use the proper maintenance tools.)
Sharpness - a
sharp chain make the chainsaw easier to use.
Tension - if
the chain is too loose, it may derail and cause a severe injury; but if it is
too tight,
it may bind and
also cause an accident or damage to the chainsaw.
Idle speed -
prevents the chain from rotating when the controls are in the idle position.
All nuts and screws
should be tight. Everything should be well lubricated.
FUEL THE SAW IN A SAFE PLACE:
Completely wipe off any spilled fuel and move the
chainsaw to a new location before starting the engine.
CHECK THE
CONDITIONS IN WHICH YOU ARE CUTTING: If you are felling a tree,
make sure you consider which way the wind is blowing in
deciding which direction the tree should fall. Also look for a lean in the tree
and a heavy imbalance if several large limbs are all on one side of the tree.
IN EVERY CUTTING
SITUATION: you must make sure you have secure footing. If the
ground is slippery from rain, snow or ice, then you should
not cut there. Always look for broken
limbs or other trees caught in the tree you want to cut.
PLAN YOUR ESCAPE ROUTE:
Make sure there are no obstacles that can cause you to trip.
Then, after you have made your cut, you will be able to
move rapidly at least 25 feet away from the tree at a 45-degree angle without
any hazard. If you have an electric saw, be careful not to trip over the cord.
ASSESS YOUR OWN
PHYSICAL CONDITION: Cutting with a chain saw is physically
demanding, even for strong persons, so do not use a chain
saw if you are not physically able to
handle it. And take plenty of rest breaks before you get
tired. BE ALERT! Otherwise you put
yourself at a severe risk.
Under NO circumstances should you be under the influence
of ANY substance -- this includes
drugs, alcohol AND cold medicines -- that can impair your
vision, dexterity or judgment.
WHAT CLOTHING SHOULD YOU WEAR?
Wearing the proper clothing is one of the best safeguards
for you to reduce the possibility of
serious injury.
Wear sturdy,
snug-fitting clothing that gives you complete freedom of movement. Do not
wear anything
loose that could catch in the moving chain, such as sleeve cuffs, cuffed pants,
scarves, loose
long hair (tie it back), jewelry.
Heavy duty,
non-slip gloves will improve your grip and protect your hands from abrasions,
cuts and
splinters.
Sturdy boots
with non-slip soles ensure good footing; and protective toes and high top boots
protect your
feet and ankles.
Wear a non-fogging,
vented face screen or safety goggles to prevent injury from flying chips
or a chain that
may break off and fly toward your face.
Wear an
approved safety hard hat. If it is properly fitted, it will be cool,
comfortable and
provide
protection from falling limbs.
Chain saws are
very noisy, so ear muffs or ear plugs are essential to protect your hearing.
Chaps made for
use when using chain saws protect your legs from severe cuts should the
chainsaw slip.
WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL ABOUT KICKBACK?
Kickback is one of the greatest saw hazards. It occurs
when a force throws the saw rapidly and
sometimes uncontrollably towards you. It is a very violent
and sudden motion which can severely or fatally injure you. There are several
causes:
- an abrupt change in wood character -- hitting a
knot or a nail
- striking a nearby limb with the tip of the
moving chain while cutting
- running the chain too slowly twisting the saw in
your cut so the chain grabs using a dull or loose chain
- having a loose grip on the saw or cutting with
only one hand
- not paying attention
But kickback can be prevented by a few steps and
precautions on your part. These DO NOT
PREVENT kickback completely, but they do reduce the
possibility of it happening to you.
The more you understand kickback and what it can do to you
and your saw, the better chance you
have of controlling its surprise movement by keeping your
balance and control over the chain saw.
- Always hold the saw firmly with both hands and
keep the left arm as straight and stable as
possible
- Use a saw equipped with a chain brake,
anti-kickback chain, or other Anti-kickback
devices.
- BUT, do not rely exclusively upon safety
devices.
- Watch for twigs that can snag the chain -- the
area should be free from any obstructions.
- Cut with the lower part of the saw blade - not
with the tip or nose.
- Maintain a high saw speed when entering, cutting
and leaving the wood cut.
- Keep the chain sharp. DO NOT cut above mid chest
height -- the saw is too close to your
face.
- DO NOT cut brush or shrubbery.
- Use only replacement bars specified by the
manufacturer.
WHAT JOBS ARE NOT FOR YOU AND YOUR CHAIN
SAW?
If possible, have a buddy with you so that you do not have
to work alone; but NEVER allow
someone else to hold the wood while you cut.
You should also re position the log between cuts, NOT while
the chain saw is still running or in your hand.
Never cut small, flexible branches or brush with your
chain saw. Their size and flexibility can easily cause the saw to bounce toward
you or bind up with enough force to cause a kickback. The best tools for that
kind of work are a hand saw, pruning shears, an ax and other hand tools.
WHAT JOBS SHOULD YOU LEAVE FOR THE
PROFESSIONAL?
Some jobs are too risky for you to try. They may be jobs
that require a heavyweight saw, special
training or years of experience.
- Do not fell medium to large trees because it is
very complicated and dangerous. Leave it to
the pros.
- Do not work from a ladder or from within the
tree. Leave it to the pros.
- Do not do boring cuts because it is very risky
unless you are trained for the job. Leave it to
the pros.
CHAIN SAW TROUBLESHOOTING
If you are having difficulty cutting or the saw is cutting
poorly, there are several problems you
should consider:
- the
chain is dull
- the
chain is improperly sharpened
- the
chain is installed backwards
- the
chain is not properly tensioned
- the
bar and chain are not properly lubricated
- the
guidebar is damaged
- the
exhaust ports are dirty
- the
fuel filter is dirty
- the
air filter is clogged
- the
spark plug is fouled
Your chain saw will also give you clues when it is time to
sharpen the chain.
- when
you notice the chain tends to walk sideways while cutting
- when
the cut produces fine powder instead of chips
- when
you find yourself pressing down hard to keep cutting
- when
you smell burnt wood
- when
it takes considerably longer to complete cuts made in less time earlier on the
job
FIRE PREVENTION
Gasoline and the hot chain saw engine can be contributing
factors in starting fires in the woods.
You should take precautions to prevent fires.
There are five very important rules to remember:
- NEVER
fuel a saw while the engine is running.
- NEVER
smoke or have any type of flame while you are around a saw or during fueling.
- NEVER
start the saw where you fueled the engine.
- Keep
leaves and dry materials away from the hot muffler.
OTHER SAFELY RULES TO REMEMBER
- BEFORE starting the engine, make sure the
chain is not contacting anything.
- DO
NOT let the saw rest on your leg or knee while you start the engine.
- Do
not drop start the chainsaw
- ALWAYS maintain control by standing
securely, holding the saw firmly and taking your hand off the trigger between cuts.
- DO
NOT work when you are fatigued.
- Keep
the handles dry and clean and free from the oil and fuel mixture.
- Whenever you are cutting, be sure your
body is clear of the natural path the saw will follow when the cut goes
through.
- NEVER
straddle the log to make a cut.
- ALWAYS shut off the engine before setting
the chain saw down: even when you are retreating from a falling tree
- Make
sure the saw is off and the chain has stopped before making any adjustments
or repairs.
- Do
not run the saw indoors.
LIMBING
- Stand
on the opposite side of the tree whenever possible, using it as a barrier
between yourself and the limb you are
cutting. Do not over stretch yourself to do this because you are less stable.
- Do
not face the limb you are cutting squarely -- stand at a 45-degree angle to
prevent the
saw from striking your leg if it slips.
- If
you are on a hill, stand on the upside of the hill.
- NEVER
cut limbs above mid-chest height.
- Do
not cut limbs that are supporting the log.
