Hillsborough County
5339 County Road 579
Seffner, Fl., 33584-3334
(813) 744-5519
Chain Saw Safety – Clearing Storm Debris
During a major storm, our backyards, and communities can be quickly changed. Homes, and buildings, may be damaged or destroyed, with high-voltage lines down eliminating electric power. Trees close to our homes, and along the road ways may have sustained physical damage making them a real and immediate threat to life and property. Understanding which trees pose an immediate hazard, and which can be left for future cleanup or care is an important first step in cleanup (for more information see Fact Sheet, ‘Hazard Tree Identification, and Treeage Following a Storm’).
Following the identification of hazardous trees our initial impulse is to immediately do something, the prudent course is to have patience in dealing with the consequences of the storm. Many homeowners with trees on their property own a small light-duty saw. Using this highly efficient, and extremely dangerous tool is not recommended when under stress. If you are not familiar with techniques of sawing, saw operation, maintenance and safety, read and master the information in your owner’s manual. Remember that there is no substitute for experience.
Working with a chainsaw is physically demanding. Understand your physical limits. It is common to push beyond normal physical limits of endurance during storm cleanup. When you are fatigued you make poor decisions, take greater risks to get the job done more quickly, and operate with a slower reaction time, all increasing the likelihood of injury. Do not exceed your skill level. Wait for the professionals to arrive if you are uncertain. Chainsaw injuries are among the most frequent sights in hospital emergency rooms following severe storms. The combination of stress, fatigue, and ignorance increases that likelihood of an accident. In fact, most professional loggers avoid chainsaw use simply because of the inherent risk of severe injury.
Chainsaw Use - Safety First!
Before cranking the saw and starting to cut protect yourself. Always wear protective clothing, including: leg protection such as chaps, or leggings that cover the area from the groin to about 2 inches above the ankles. These chaps should be made from synthetic fabrics that are designed to prevent the running saw chain from coming into contact with your leg. The jagged teeth of a running chainsaw move at 45 to 55 miles per hour.
Use gloves with slip resistant palms and made of the same fabric used in chaps, shoes with high tops to protect your ankles against accidental contact with the saw, and steel toes to protect your feet from falling limbs or logs, or contact with the saw. Shoes should have non-skid soles.
Always wear safety glasses with side shields should be worn to prevent injury from flying wood chips, sawdust, or twigs; and a fitted hard hat whenever there is the danger of falling limbs, or debris.
Planning the Cut
Think before you begin cutting. Make sure you know what you are doing. Do not walk around, stepping over obstacles with a fully revved chainsaw while you figure out your next move. Planning prevents poor performance of the sawyer and the saw, and improves safety.
If you only have small branches (four inches or less) to cut, consider using a handsaw. If you need to fell a tree; cut or remove trees or branches in contact with power lines; cut limbs above your shoulders; or you only use a chainsaw once in a while, you should consider having a professional with the proper equipment do the cutting for you.
Trees twisted during a storm are under tremendous pressure. The forces of bending and stretching can result in wood that is compressed or highly tense. Compression wood can cause a saw to bind, and become trapped in the cut. Tension wood can cause the tree to rapidly expand or unfold when cut and can forcefully propel the saw out of your hands. Understanding how to release these tremendous forces safely takes a great deal of training and experience.
Making the Cuts
If you are cutting limbs and trees you no doubt have a great deal of work to do to recover from the storm, and help your family and neighbors. Remember you will be of no help if you are injured or in the hospital.
Here are a few things to keep in mind during the cutting operation:
· Clear the area, slowly and methodically, of all objects that might accidentally come into contact with the moving chain, and cause it to bind or kick-back.
· Clear and maintain an escape route, so that you can move easily and safely away from the tree being cut in to a safe zone.
· Know who is around you – keep children and pets away from the cutting area.
· Never work from a ladder.
· Do not use the saw in bad weather.
· Keep the chain guard on your saw when not in use. Carry the saw with the cutting bar to the rear and outside, away from your body.
· Start the engine by placing the saw on the ground. Place your foot in the rear hand guard, grip the top handle firmly, and use the other to pull the starting rope.
· Never drop start a chain saw.
· Position your feet for optimum balance when initiating the cut.
· Position your body to the left of the cut and away from the saw chain when the engine is running.
· Be very conscience of the potential for kickback, which can throw the moving chain into the your face. Striking the tip of the chain saw against any object can cause kickback.
· Begin and continue cutting at full throttle.
· Shut down the saw completely before setting it down on the ground.
· Refuel the engine, after it has cooled, in an area away from where you are cutting.
· Each time you refuel refill the oil tank, check the chain tension, and tighten all the nuts and bolts. Consider your level of fatigue, and if you are thinking clearly.
When operated properly, and with respect chainsaws are valuable labor saving devices. If you think that what have just read is over kill, you should not be using a chainsaw.
For more information on Chainsaw Safety Guidelines visit:
http://www.loggingsafety.com/thsm-4.htm or the Spanish-language version at
http://ohioline.osu.edu/atts/PDF-Spanish/Chainsaw-Safety-SP.pdf
Rob Northrop
Extension Forester
University of Florida IFAS - Hillsborough
Hillsborough County Extension is a cooperative service of Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners and the University of Florida.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Employment Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M., University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating.