   Chainsaw Safety - October 17, 2007 Jeff Schalau, Associate Agent, Agriculture & Natural Resources, Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County Chain saws can be great labor saving tools. They can also quickly cause severe injury or death. Each year, 40,000 people are injured while using a chainsaw and the average medical cost for a single injury is $7,500. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 80% of injuries due directly to chain saws affect the hands and legs. Most of us know someone who has had a chainsaw injury. Many people are thinking about cutting some firewood for the winter. This short article will address some key points, but it cannot address every potential hazard you may encounter while using a chain saw. First, ask yourself if you really need to be using a chainsaw. If you are pruning and have only small branches to cut, use a hand saw. An axe can also be used if not pruning. Chain saws are not well suited for pruning small branches of live trees and often create a wound that compromises the health and vigor of the tree. Sharp hand saws always make a cleaner cut and cause less injury to the tree. If you purchase a chainsaw, read the owner's manual before operating a chain saw for the first time. Note the safety practices. Note how to check and adjust the chain tension. This is extremely important for safe operation. If you have not already done so, purchase the appropriate personal protective equipment for use with your chainsaw. This includes: hard hat, ear protection, safety glasses or goggles, heavy duty non-slip gloves, sturdy boots (steel toes if possible), trim fitting clothes, and Kevlar chaps. Put the chain guard on the saw when not in use. Always carry the saw at your side with the cutting bar and chain to the rear and to the outside. Never carry a chain saw in the passenger area of a vehicle. Use the fuel mix recommended by the manufacturer. Never fuel a hot chain saw; let it cool first. Always fuel in a clear area away from debris. If your fuel can has no spout, use a funnel. Wipe the saw clean of any spilled fuel after fueling and never smoke while fueling. There is only one safe way to start a chain saw: move 10 feet or more away from the fueling area; place the saw in a clear, debris-free area; hold the saw firmly on the ground by putting your foot through the rear handle (if possible) and by holding it down with one hand on the top handle; pull the starter cord with the other hand; the chain should not be moving while the saw is idling; never start the saw while holding it off the ground. Clear away anything that has a chance of interfering with the operation. Remove debris that could cause you to slip or lose your balance or accidentally contact the chain. Keep both hands firmly on the saw when cutting. Avoid kickback at all costs. Kickback occurs when the saw rotates back, or "kicks back" at the operator, due to the nose of the saw contacting an object or obstruction. Use a saw equipped with chain brake or kickback guard. Hold the saw firmly with both hands. Grip the top handle by putting the thumb around it. Watch for twigs that can snag the chain. Don't pinch the chain while cutting the log. Saw with the lower part of the bar close to the bumper, not on the top near the nose. Maintain high saw speed when entering or leaving a cut and kep the chain sharp. Do not reach above your shoulder to cut. The chain is too close to your face in this position. Many injuries occur because the operator got tired or withstood long periods of saw vibration. Take frequent breaks and quit working if you are tired. Cutting down large trees is not simple and should be left to experienced operators who have felled trees before. Limbing requires proper position and consideration of kickback potential, the springing back of branches, and the chance the log will roll. Bucking (cutting a log into lengths) requires knowing how to block the log to prevent binding, kickback, and rolling. If you are not familiar with these operations, get more information from your owner's manual, a saw dealer, a book or video, or from an experienced operator. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension has publications and information on gardening and pest control. If you have other gardening questions, call the Master Gardener line in the Cottonwood office at 646-9113 ext. 14 or E-mail us at cottonwoodmg@yahoo.com and be sure to include your address and phone number. Find past Backyard Gardener columns or submit column ideas at the Backyard Gardener web site: http://cals.arizona.edu/yavapai/anr/hort/byg/. |