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How: Using a Chainsaw Safely

A chainsaw is one of the most useful and dangerous tools a forest landowner can own. Using one safely is in your best interest. If you're buying or intending to operate a chainsaw for the first time, try to get formal instruction in safe operation. No pamphlet or article can really do the job in teaching you how to safely and effectively operate a chainsaw. This article is intended for those who want to use a saw safely to cut firewood or down logs. Felling trees safely is beyond the scope of this publication, requiring hands-on training.

Start with the right equipment. Besides a saw, you should buy and use protective gear. A hard hat is essential. It protects your head from falling debris and forms a platform for other safety gear. You are less likely to forget a piece of gear if it is all attached.

 

Things to Know

• A chainsaw is a forest landowner's most useful and potentially lethal tool.
• Most injuries are deep gashes to the hands, legs, feet and head.
• Full safety gear, hardhat, eye protection, ear protection, chaps and gloves cost less than one trip to the emergency room &endash; get it and use it!
• Kickback, a violent reaction triggered when the upper part of the chain bar tip meets resistance is the most likely, but not only, cause of serious injury.
• Even modern safety features, such as chain brakes, will not prevent kickback injury, which can happen faster than human reflexes.
• Thus, avoid kickback situations.
• Instruction and training, under the supervision of a trained and experienced person, is your first line of defense against injury.
• Sharp chains are safer. A dull chain requires more effort and increases fatigue, which can lead to accidents.
• Most accidents are related to fatigue - stop work when you are tired.

Eye and face protection are best provided by a fine mesh screen attached to the hard hat. The wire mesh allows excellent vision, never fogs and prevents chips and debris from hitting your eyes. Plus you can easily wear your regular eyeglasses under the face shield. Safety glasses made of scratch resistant polycarbonate are also helpful, though they tend to fog up.

Ear muffs attached to the hard hat that swing quickly into position out of the way when the saw is not running are essential. A chainsaw runs at about 100 decibels. Prolonged exposure to noises greater than 85 decibels lead to gradual, permanent hearing loss. Hearing protection is cheap, effective and has benefits that last a lifetime. Single-use or multiple-use foam plugs that fit directly in the ear canal can also protect your hearing. Some professional loggers use both the foam plugs together with ear muffs.

General Safety Precautions

• Read and understand the manufacturer's chainsaw operation manual.
• Check your chainsaw thoroughly before every use.
• Make sure the bar, chain, and sprocket are in top condition.
• Check that bar oil is flowing and the chain brake is working.
• Sharpen your chain and top up with bar oil each time you stop to refuel.
• Always wear suitable protective clothing.
• Never use the saw to cut anything above shoulder height
• Never operate the saw beyond your ability.
• Carry a chainsaw with the motor off and the saw blade pointing to the rear.
• Always have a properly equipped first aid kit with you.
• Keep other people and animals away from the working area.
• Make sure there is a second person within calling distance.
• Use the saw to cut only wood.
• If tired, stop the saw and rest a little.
• Avoid using a chainsaw in wet or windy conditions or in poor light.
• Wait a few minutes for the motor to cool before refueling.

Chainsaw chaps, made of a material that jams the moving parts of a chainsaw with fibers, are effective at preventing some leg injuries. Gloves with similar material help prevent hand injuries. Gloves also reduce vibration injury. Chaps and gloves are typically dyed a bright color to help others see you.

The last piece of safety equipment you should consider is steel-toed boots which can prevent chainsaw injuries and crush-type injuries.
The cost of this protective gear is around $200 depending on the quality and features. If you are buying a new saw, ask for a discount on the proper gear. This is a lot cheaper than one trip to the emergency room.

You often hear excuses why people do not wear their safety gear – it’s hot, uncomfortable, restricts movement, etc. Modern equipment has gone a long way to reduce these objections. The “pain” of wearing protective gear is a lot less the pain of a serious chainsaw injury.

Safe Sawing

The safest way to start a chainsaw is on the ground. Choose a flat piece of ground, clear of debris. Get down on your left knee, with the toe of your right boot firmly on the base plate of the handle. You should NEVER "drop-start" a chainsaw by holding and thrusting the saw down with your left hand while pulling the starter cord up with your right.

While cutting, always run the chainsaw motor at full throttle. This makes the job safer, as there is less chance of kick-back. Position your body to the left of the chainsaw, so if it kicks back uncontrollably, it goes over your right shoulder. Keep a firm grip with your left hand on the front handle, with your thumb securely below the handle. The swivel of your wrist in a kickback situation will activate the chain brake. Make sure the chain is tensioned correctly; and watch the size of wood shavings. Shavings should be fairly large, smaller ones tend to clog the saw and indicate that the chain is not sharpened correctly. A sharp chain cuts easier and safer.

Kickback, when the saw suddenly and uncontrollably jumps back toward the operator is one of the most dangerous situations you can encounter. To avoid kickback, be constantly aware of the position of the upper part of the blade tip. This is where you will get the strongest kickback. Always clear away brush, vegetation, and any obstructing debris before attempting a cut that might trigger a kickback.

Avoid cuts that will cause the chainsaw to jam in a tree trunk or limb. To avoid jamming the saw, cut into the wood under compression first until the cut starts to close. Then cut from the other side towards the compression cut. Make a habit of using a wedge to prevent the compression cut jamming tight on the chainsaw blade.

Refueling

Refueling is a good opportunity to take a break, sharpen the chain, and check your safety gear. Pick a clean area like a road. It’s best to have a fire extinguisher near by. If you smoke, do that first before you get near the fuel and make sure that your cigarette is dead out.
To avoid starting a fire, you should let your saw cool down before refueling. Touch up the chain to make sure the saw is sharp and check its tension. Refill the bar oil and wipe up any spills. Check that the fuel and oil caps are tight.

While in the field, keep your saw sharp and clean of chips and debris. Have the right fuel mix on hand - but only enough for the day and in a safe container. Refill the bar oil each time you refuel. Carry a combination screwdriver and wrench that fits your saw to properly tension the chain. Carry the right files for the chain that you are using. A sharpening guide is also handy to make sure that you sharpen the chain at the proper angle. A portable vise mounted on a vehicle makes sharpening the chain easier. The air filter and any cooling vents are often neglected but should be easy to clean with a small brush.

After cutting, consider reversing the bar to even out wear. Clean the groove on the chain bar. Clean the air filter, cooling vents, inside the sprocket cover, and the chain brake mechanism. Have your chainsaw serviced regularly - about once every six months.

A Word About Tree Falling

The technical aspects of tree falling are beyond the scope of this publication. You should get hands-on training if you plan on falling trees. While the techniques are not difficult to master, one mistake can lead to death or permanent injury. Tree falling presents different hazards related both to the risk of falling trees and limbs and to chainsaw operation.

Even trained, experienced forest workers who fall trees for a living should undergo retraining if supervision shows they are overlooking any fine points of safety.

Local saw repair shops often have a list of professional trainers and a schedule of courses.

In accordance with applicable State and Federal laws and University policy, the University of California does not discriminate in any of its policies, procedures, or practices on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, medical condition, or handicap. Inquiries regarding this policy may be directed to the Affirmative Action Director, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 300 Lakeside Drive, 6th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612-3560. (510) 987-0096.

Publication of this series was in part funded by the
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
under Contract numbers 8CA96027 and 8CA96028

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