First thing my dad taught me when he was teaching me to run a chainsaw, was absolutely no tree work off of a ladder. When I first started with the power company me and an older guy were riding out to a job and passed a man on a ladder trying to cut a limb with a chainsaw, he said as we passed go down there and turn around and let's cut that limb for that man before he kills himself, we went back but we were to late the limb come down knocking the ladder out from under him and he was cut by the saw, we got on the radio and had the dispatcher call for an ambulance, we gave him first aid and controlled the bleeding till the paramedics came and carried him to the hospital for stitches, I have often thought about how right my dad was, and as far as chaps I have never used them while running a saw and have never had a problem, but I think I will get me a set because I know complacency can cause an accident and I'm not as young and agile as I once was, also I am by myself 90% of the time and eventually your good luck can run out.