If there’s ever an advertisement for making sure you take the correct safety precautions when using a chainsaw it’s the above video. Not only one was the man in the background close to losing his arm or even his head, he doesn't seem to be wearing proper safety gear either. The situation he ended up in should also have been anticipated, especially as he’s cutting through a knotty stump. That’s why using a chainsaw is not just about making sure you’re safe enough, but also making sure that you've planned ahead to avoid the devastating consequences. You can’t always anticipate how a chainsaw will react, but if you go in with a good idea of how to deal with the situation if things do go wrong then you shouldn't have many problems.
Here are the things you need to do to protect yourself when working with a chainsaw and also to make sure it’s correctly maintained and thus be unlikely to pack any nasty surprises.
The chainsaw gear
It’s a bit strange that the man in the video above was even allowed to do his work in the background of a news report, as he’s clearly not wearing the correct chainsaw clothing to be carrying out the job. For starters his cap isn’t going to give much protection; flying wood chips can still very much get in his eyes, which in turn can mean a loss of control of the chainsaw and potentially an even nastier accident. Instead he should be wearing a chainsaw helmet, a hard hat that comes with a visor and ear defenders attached (people often forget that they should protect their ears too, as prolonged use of a loud roaring chainsaw without ear protection will start to do your ear drums some serious damage).
Thankfully he does seem to be wearing gloves, although hopefully they’re of the thick reinforced chainsaw glove variety. His jacket his fairly bulky, but he’d really be better off with a specially made chainsaw jacket that provides in-built protection. The same goes for the jeans he’s wearing, switching protective reinforced leggings or trousers for chainsaw use is the best way to get. At around £60 these aren't the cheapest thing you’ll ever buy, but you really can’t put a price on safety. The same goes for chainsaw boots, which should also be equipped with steel toecaps and shock absorbent heels to defend your feet against the possibility of heavy objects hitting them.
Maintaining your chainsaw
Amusingly I accidentally wrote ‘marinating’ when I began to write this section, but I don’t suggest you ever think about eating your chainsaw – although I hear it’s quite a bite! Sorry, that was a terrible pun.
Anyway, if you never take steps to maintain your chainsaw then it’s going to become a far more dangerous piece of kit than it is already. Regular maintenance also needs to be carried out in order to extend the chainsaws life; otherwise you’d be forking out for a new one every few months. The chain is the most integral part of the equipment and it’s also the part that will wear down the quickest. If you have to put more energy into each cut then you’ll know when the chain needs some work. This will tire you out quicker and mean you’re more likely to make mistakes, and mistakes can be pretty costly when you’re handling something as powerful as a chainsaw. Thankfully you can buy a chainsaw chain sharpener for under £25, although new chains shouldn't cost you much more than £10 anyway. The chain also needs to cleaned and oiled regularly too, dispensing with bits of wood that have built up during use and also making sure that the chain fits tightly against the bar (with a slight slack).
Aside from chains, check the air and fuel filters and a regular basis so they don’t get clogged up. You should also periodically check that nuts and bolts remain tight too; but spark plugs, carburettors, hoses and starter ropes can be checked less often. If the chainsaw is going to lie dormant for a while make sure all the oil and fuel is drained away before putting it in storage. You should also remove the chain and store it in a container that’s filled with oil, that way you won’t come back to a rusty chain.
At the end of the day, if you don’t feel safe using a chainsaw then simply don’t use it. It’s not worth putting your life in danger when you could get in a professional instead. If your chainsaw seems like its last legs then get rid of it, malfunctioning chainsaws are not something you want to be holding in your hands.
ReplyDeleteNice to read your article