chainsaw injury

[rback33]

I am not going to sit here and tell you I am perfect, but people look at me funny when I go to saw... Jeans and boots, usually long sleeved short, safety glasses and hearing protection. I habitually set the chain brake IMMEDIATELY if I am not going to the next cut. It's an easy safety habit to get into I have found. I have a Stihl MS290 with a 20" bar. It's a lot of saw for a little ole 165# man like me. I almost met the same fate one day last winter. Fatigue causes issues. I had been cutting like crazy for several hours when I went to rest the saw on my thigh between cuts... I did NOT set the brake and the chain had not not spun down yet.... sliced a nice hole in my jeans and the chain stopped....no skin contact at all. Got very lucky and it scared the crap outta me. I handed the saw off to my buddy to let him run it at that point as it was obvious that I was no longer able to do it safely at that point. One other time I tried harder for a Darwin award without damaging myself or anything else, but we won't get into that.

 

[KeithInSpace]

Just did some heavy clearing with my Stihl and touched my leg TWICE. Once a light graze that was stupid...second was heavy contact at high speed (though decelerating) to my inner thigh just south of my equipment...I was going for the jugular on that one. Don't even remember it happending, really. Must have tripped on something. Scared the mess out of me. Been using saws for many years with no incident.

Fortunately, I WAS wearing my chaps and they performed PERFECTLY. In both cases, they white fluff jammed up the chain immediately.

Told my wife about it some 3 weeks later, then bought a new set of chaps. Threw the others away...don't even want guests to use them.

Safety is cheap when the alternative is ripping flesh from the body.

Always wear my helmet and face shield combination, also. Personal injury is something my wife won't tolerate.

 

[Soundguy]

I'm sure I look like a storm trooper with my wide brim saftey hard hat, with face shield, kevlar arm protectors, kevlar chainsaw long gauntlet safety gloves, and bright orange safety chaps and milspec combat boots ( kevlar bottom leather upper.. )... but if it saves a trip to the hospital and stitches.. or limb reatachment.. I'm all for looking stupid. besides.. i don't have to wear safety gear to look stupid I've been told.. (grin)

Soundguy

I remember the chaps first comming out I saw a science programme in England where they used a side of pork to demonstrate it won me over. Montanaman you seem to have explained the look of surprise I saw on my Stihl dealers face when I asked for a pair As has been said I couldn't care less if I look like a Kubota blimp I'm not doing it dressed as Larry the Cable Guy Git r Done yerself if you want that.

 

[rback33]

i don't have to wear safety gear to look stupid I've been told.. (grin)

Soundguy

I think I resemble that comment too...

 

[Fergie]

On a sad note I heard from the local doctor this morning of a guy in our 'City' who lost his leg yesterday when his saw kicked back. Makes $50 for a pair of chaps seem cheap

 

[DrainPondDesign]

My wife & I took a FREE USDA sponsored chainsaw safety class this week, learned some new tricks in felling trees & how to reduce the possibility of injury. We too will be buying chaps.

Check with your cooperative extension or farm bureau if classes are offered in your area. (the free coffee & doughnuts were good too)

 

[HEC]

I know a logger in the next town from mine who had a saw kick back and get him in the face,not a pretty sight for sure,he was lucky he didn't lose an eye also.

 

[John White]

Back in the 50's I was working with a man up in Northern New Mex. Up in the high country, logging. A man cut the calf of his leg with a chain saw , severing a artry. It was miles to the nearest doctor, over a rough logging road. The only thing they could to stop the bleeding was heat a horse shoe red hot, hold him down and stick it into the cut. It seared the cut, but stopped the bleeding till he could be taken to a doctor.

 

[stayalert]

Back in the 50's I was working with a man up in Northern New Mex. Up in the high country, logging. A man cut the calf of his leg with a chain saw , severing a artry. It was miles to the nearest doctor, over a rough logging road. The only thing they could to stop the bleeding was heat a horse shoe red hot, hold him down and stick it into the cut. It seared the cut, but stopped the bleeding till he could be taken to a doctor.

UNCLE! I'm bying some additional leg protection!!

 

[escavader]

I broke down and bought a huskVARNA hardhat,with screen shield and hearing protection.I used it saturday cutting in my wood lot. SNOW SHOES,3 ft of snow on the ground,40 degrees and i was reduced to a t shirt.BOY THEM THINGS MAKE YOU SWEAT!!!!!! I read in the instructions you can punch out some holes in the top for air,guess ill do that.
ALAN