Be careful with chainsaws, invest use chaps

elalexander · Mar 29, 2009

Glad you are OK. A co-worker of mine just got nine stiches last weekend while cleaning his fence line. Slip in the mud while cutting a limb, his hand never hit the brake handle and the saw got him just below the left knee. No chaps, and by himself. Could have been much worse.
Our local saw shop carries chaps similair if not the same as can be found in Baileys.Chainsaws, Outdoor Power Equipment and Tree Care Supplies from Bailey's

I always were safety glasses, steel toe boots and gloves to. When things go south the go fast and you don't have time to yell help let alone do anything.

Be careful out there.

horse7 · Mar 29, 2009

ampsucker said:
...
any chainsaw you buy new today is going to have a large section in the manual devoted to safety gear, chaps included. this is largly CYA on the manufacturer's part who's lawyers instructed them to put it in there.
...
amp

I used to agree more or less with this, but after seeing how many people have no clue about using a chainsaw the safety instructions seems worthwhile. At least the new owner has a chance to learn about safety since most aren't going to go on the net and search for "chainsaw safety" on their own. My opinion is that people ought to have the safety information available, if they don't make use of it that is their choice.

A lot of people in this area (and probably everywhere else) literally use no safety equipment with chainsaws, and don't seen to care about tractor safety either. I have a friend who is anti-ROPS because it might affect his ability to "jump clear" if the tractor rolls

(he does not have an FEL, which sure makes a difference in ability to jump off the right side!).

I was out cutting a path through the fallen trees on the roads in the last ice storm so I could get to where my horse is boarded, people thought I worked for the town since town workers are the only ones anyone sees with anything like blaze orange chaps....

gemini5362 · Mar 30, 2009

I notice that everyone is talking about chaps or gloves or helmet and some kind of safety eyewear. I did not notice anyone talking about steel toed shoes. I wear mine every time I cut wood. If a log falls down it is nice not to have broken toes. I wear a pair of safety shoes that I bought at walmart for about 35.00 nice non slip soles and steel toes.

Treemonkey1000 · Mar 30, 2009

Good point Gemini. I have to admit I never wear my steel toe boots. I even have steel toed tennis shoes for when I worked at a factory area. I have a set of boots that I wear for climbing trees that are comfortable to be in all day. There have been only a few times where I have had close encounters where steel toes would have been the right thing at the right time. Don't let me minimize the need for steel toes though. If I had to pick my Safety item priority with my wallet. First would be a helmet, safety glasses, ear plugs, and chaps in that priority. Gloves are in that line up as well. Then the boots. That is just based upon personal experience of how often those things have saved my bacon..

TomOfTarsus · Mar 30, 2009

I always wear steel toes because I own the world's greatest lawn mower and it's best to have them on*. But I didn't know about the Kevlar foot protection. Is this similar to metatarsal plates? And as well, I wear gloves, but I now know about Kevlar gloves, so thanks again. I wear safety glasses, but no helmet or face shield, I'm afraid - probably not a bad idea, seeing's the company already provides me with a hardhat.

Aside to someone who asked about the hospital ER "refusing to treat" - they said that after 8 hours the risk of infection is too great (after a good-natured joke about how my son "rushed right over" nearly 8 hrs after such a ghastly looking wound!). My memory might be foggy - maybe they wouldn't have stitched it, but instead would have treated it another way until it could be closed properly.

Tom

* And to those interested, "the world's greatest lawn mower" is an old 19" Sensation I bought in 1981, now on it's third B & S 3.5 Hp motor. You can get close on both sides and the "front", there's no bag, and the chute discharges out the back at about a 45 degree angle past your feet. The handle is mid-mounted and flips over so (1) I don't have to turn the mower around at the end of each pass and (2) I can keep the chute pointed away from the house while I'm mowing the big hill behind it. 8" ball bearing wheels at all four corners, and I'm set. But you gotta wear your safety gear with a machine like this!

Treemonkey1000 · Mar 30, 2009

TomOfTarsus said:
I always wear steel toes because I own the world's greatest lawn mower and it's best to have them on*. But I didn't know about the Kevlar foot protection. Is this similar to metatarsal plates? And as well, I wear gloves, but I now know about Kevlar gloves, so thanks again. I wear safety glasses, but no helmet or face shield, I'm afraid - probably not a bad idea, seeing's the company already provides me with a hardhat.

Aside to someone who asked about the hospital ER "refusing to treat" - they said that after 8 hours the risk of infection is too great (after a good-natured joke about how my son "rushed right over" nearly 8 hrs after such a ghastly looking wound!). My memory might be foggy - maybe they wouldn't have stitched it, but instead would have treated it another way until it could be closed properly.

Tom

* And to those interested, "the world's greatest lawn mower" is an old 19" Sensation I bought in 1981, now on it's third B & S 3.5 Hp motor. You can get close on both sides and the "front", there's no bag, and the chute discharges out the back at about a 45 degree angle past your feet. The handle is mid-mounted and flips over so (1) I don't have to turn the mower around at the end of each pass and (2) I can keep the chute pointed away from the house while I'm mowing the big hill behind it. 8" ball bearing wheels at all four corners, and I'm set. But you gotta wear your safety gear with a machine like this!

Sounds like you might need a jockstrap and cup with that machine Tom.

JDGREEN4ME · Mar 30, 2009

Butters said:
Two days ago I was cleaning up from our historic ice storm. I was cutting a small tree wrapped with grape vines when the saw whipped around and got my left leg right below the knee cap. In the scheme of things, I was lucky, I lost about 3 pints of blood, but did not tear any nerves or ligaments, just two vessels and muscle. A man in a nearby town died last week when he hit his femoral artery.
This could have been avoided if I I had purchased and worn a $70 pair of chaps. I have some ordered now and will never start another saw without them. My father witnessed it and rushed me to the hospital. He will be wearing chaps from now on as well. Be careful and use safety equipment.

Glad everything worked out O.K. for you! I am embarrassed to admit I bought chaps about three years ago and I haven't used them yet...pretty sure the next time I cut I will.

KeithInSpace · Mar 30, 2009

Dude! Seriously...good thing you're alive. 3 pints is no joke.

If that had happened to me, my wife would be SOOOO angry. Every time I hurt myself, she's right there hitting me and screaming. Heck...she'd take out the pistol and shoot me right there if I tried that hard to cut my leg off!!!

I didn't know what chaps were when I purchased my first chainsaw, but my brother knew what the deal was. After I cut into my first set...twice...I started to appreciate them even more.

Now I only chainsaw with the following:
--Chaps
--Jeans
--Tall socks
--Steel toe hightop work boots
--Long sleeve chap shirt (has cotton panels in it like the pants)
--Long sleeve shirt underneath
--Hardhat with integrated screen and ear protection
--Safety glasses (yes, under the screen)
--Tight fitting leather gloves

I wear this in 100 degree heat. Can't wait to get out of it sometimes, but at least I'm doing what I can to stay safe.

Best of luck to you. And praise your lucky stars. Could have been much worse.

Butters · Apr 1, 2009

Thank you all. This has been a heck of a lesson. I havent even felt like turning on the computer until today. My fever was around 100 since Sunday due to a staph infection.