Protective chaps and PPE review

[Hamiltonville Farm]

I review some Forester Professional cutters combo from Rural King ($60) in this video.

Chainsaw chaps and Protective PPE- demo and review - YouTube

 

[ArlyA]

I can't recommend those chaps. They found that many people fall over during saw accidents and cut there calves. With that idea, any modern chaps now wrap the users caves with Kevlar. The ones I use do.

 

[Hamiltonville Farm]

Good point. How does that effect you when you're walking or general getting around while you're in the woods? Thanks!

I originally read that as ankle, so I had to edit my comment.

 

[Jstpssng]

You don't really notice them any more than regular chaps. They are hot in the summertime, so I tried to do any cutting in the early morning before it gets too warm.

 

[ArlyA]

I agree with jstpssng. Makes no difference that your calves are wrapped for walking. I appreciate longer chaps that cover the top of my boots as much as possible. But do note, 50% of saw chain cuts occur above the operators belt. :confused3:

 

[Hamiltonville Farm]

Yeah good points! Thanks for sharing.

 

[KennyG]

I agree with jstpssng. Makes no difference that your calves are wrapped for walking. I appreciate longer chaps that cover the top of my boots as much as possible. But do note, 50% of saw chain cuts occur above the operators belt. :confused3:

Is that really true? I thought the vast majority were leg injuries. Seems like all the gory pictures I've seen are legs.

 

[ArlyA]

Yes its true. After doing the NSF sawyer course some years ago, I looked for and found the statistics of were chain cuts occurred. It was something I read a few years ago, but going by memory they had it broken down to arms, hands, head, shoulder, legs, feet and the like. Most kick back hits people in the head or shoulder. Nonetheless, it was close to 50% above and below your belt. After reading this, I got a Kevlar shirt. Go figure!

Is that really true? I thought the vast majority were leg injuries. Seems like all the gory pictures I've seen are legs.

 

[CobyRupert]

I agree with jstpssng. Makes no difference that your calves are wrapped for walking. I appreciate longer chaps that cover the top of my boots as much as possible. But do note, 50% of saw chain cuts occur above the operators belt. :confused3:

I'm not as worried about top of boot or calves as much as wanting the inseam to come together as low as possible, I rather loose a foot than 9".
The ones in the video don't. I have the greatest danger from a bad habit tendency, in rare situations, to swing the saw vertical after a cut, holding it with trigger hand, as other hand moves branches, tosses a chunk aside, etc... . This could be a problem in perfect storm where chain speed hasn't wound down to zero at same time it swings too far down because you're tired, or bumps something and comes back into you.

Yes, the simple answer is don't do that! And I try not to. But with saws you have to be perfect 100% of the time, not 99.9999%. It's that .0001% of the time I want the chaps for.

 

[Hamiltonville Farm]

Yeah, it only takes once, don't it?

 

[ArlyA]

There are around 30,000 ER visits because of chainsaw "mishaps" per year in the USA. Visiting ER is not all that much fun.....

Yeah, it only takes once, don't it?

 

[John_Mc]

It's about an even split between leg injuries and hand/arm (almost all hand/arm are to the left hand).

I suspect the left hand injuries are from two main causes:

1. People not engaging and disengaging the chain brake properly: keep both hands on the saw. Engage by rotating your left wrist forward to hit the brake lever. Disengage by keeping your right had on the rear handle, your left thumb hooked on that front handle and reach forward with your fingers to pull the lever back.
2. Not gripping the front handle properly: the thumb should always be wrapped around the handle, not pointed sideways and resting on the handle or over the top next to your fingers. If gripped incorrectly, you are just asking for your hand to slip off if you bump the saw of experience a kickback. (The former director of the Forestry and Natural Resources Program at a local career center used to tell his students, "If I ever visit you in the hospital with a chainsaw injury, you BETTER have a broken thumb.")

 

[Hamiltonville Farm]

Good info!

 

[ArlyA]

Thanks for finding that for me! This reminds me why people should go through some sawyer safety program. Those saws are so, so darn dangerous..

It's about an even split between leg injuries and hand/arm (almost all hand/arm are to the left hand).

View attachment 588433

I suspect the left hand injuries are from two main causes:

1. People not engaging and disengaging the chain brake properly: keep both hands on the saw. Engage by rotating your left wrist forward to hit the brake lever. Disengage by keeping your right had on the rear handle, your left thumb hooked on that front handle and reach forward with your fingers to pull the lever back.
2. Not gripping the front handle properly: the thumb should always be wrapped around the handle, not pointed sideways and resting on the handle or over the top next to your fingers. If gripped incorrectly, you are just asking for your hand to slip off if you bump the saw of experience a kickback. (The former director of the Forestry and Natural Resources Program at a local career center used to tell his students, "If I ever visit you in the hospital with a chainsaw injury, you BETTER have a broken thumb.")

 

[ArlyA]

Good info!

Mr Hamiltonville Farm, In your video, your thumb is not always around the saws front handle. This is a no, no becase if the saw kicks back, its less likely you'll engage the brake. The brake is your friend...

 

[ericm979]

Yes its true. After doing the NSF sawyer course some years ago, I looked for and found the statistics of were chain cuts occurred. It was something I read a few years ago, but going by memory they had it broken down to arms, hands, head, shoulder, legs, feet and the like. Most kick back hits people in the head or shoulder. Nonetheless, it was close to 50% above and below your belt. After reading this, I got a Kevlar shirt. Go figure!

Here's OSHA's injury diagram:
Logging eTool: Chain Saw - Chain Saw Injury Locations
(Edit- oops, did not read the whole thread and Johns' already posted this)

Data's kinda old though I'm not sure if it'd change much.... trees are still trees.

At least with OSHA's data a lot of the upper body injuries are left hand and arm.

I'd like to see a scientific test of chap's cut resistance. I have the Forester chaps and sometimes wonder if their four layers of material will be sufficient. I know they claim to meet standards but I have not yet researched the standards to understand how rigorous they are and how well they're enforced.

 

[yomax4]

This is a whole bunch of Horrible. I've had so many close calls I finally got helmet and chaps. Anything is better that what I was doing. Cutting several cord in July in shorts and tennis shoes. Done it a lot.

 

[Hamiltonville Farm]

Thanks...I'll watch for that and then be more conscious to keep it there. I appreciate you looking out for me!

 

[Hamiltonville Farm]

Mr Hamiltonville Farm, In your video, your thumb is not always around the saws front handle. This is a no, no becase if the saw kicks back, its less likely you'll engage the brake. The brake is your friend...

See above