Chainsaw Safety Guide

Chainsaw Safety Guide  – Using a Chainsaw

The chainsaw is an indispensable labour saving aid, used by thousands of firewood gatherers and home handy-people. While it makes light work of felling and cutting up trees, a chainsaw deserves to be treated with respect. Carelessly used, inadequately maintained or incorrectly equipped, a chainsaw can be a lethal weapon.

If you’ve just bought a chainsaw, you should read the manufacturer’s instruction manual carefully and familiarise yourself with your saw’s operation. If you haven’t used a chainsaw before, practice the cutting techniques on a stump or log before you attempt more serious work.

If you use your saw with common sense, follow correct techniques and maintain your saw to the manufacturer’s instructions, it will provide you with safe and trouble-free service.

If you’re a chainsaw novice, it’s an excellent idea to get training from a qualified person. This way you learn by hands on experience and avoid getting into unsafe habits right from the start.

It’s very important to understand your saw, be familiar with all of its features and able to maintain them. Details on chainsaw safety can all be found in your manual that you should receive with your chainsaw. When looking into purchasing a chainsaw, it is important to ask questions about the machine’s safety and maintenance features.

Many serious accidents occur when chainsaw users tackle jobs that are beyond their capabilities.

Some felling and cutting operations are extremely dangerous and should only be undertaken by professionals or people with proper experience and training. These include:

• Working on wind-affected trees;

• Felling large trees;

• Felling trees with a heavy lean;

• Felling trees that have stem rot or are a species prone to splitting;

• Felling trees on steep slopes or unstable ground;

• Working on or felling trees that overhang power lines, buildings or public access ways.

Always get someone who is experienced to carry out work that is beyond your capabilities.

• Do not operate a saw above shoulder height or above ground level, such as in a tree or off a ladder.

• Always have someone within calling distance – never work alone while using a chainsaw.

• Never operate your chainsaw when you are fatigued or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If you get tired when using your saw, have a rest – you need to stay alert and be in control.

• Your chainsaw is designed to cut wood – never cut any other material or use your saw guide bar for levering or digging.

• Always match the size of your saw and bar with the material being cut. Don’t try to use a small saw and bar to fell a large tree.

Chainsaw Safety Guide – Equipment

Technology today has improved safety considerably without compromising on comfort excessively.

Always keep a first aid kit amongst your equipment. A small kit with at least two large sterile wound dressings is fine. Remember to keep your safety equipment in good condition. Clean it, keep it dry and replace any broken or damaged components.

Remember to get your equipment serviced and tuned regularly, don’t be afraid to ask a more experienced user or your local dealer for help. There’s regular servicing required too, such as chain sharpening/tensioning, cleaning and various safety checks that should be carried out before/after every use.

Familiarise yourself with the safety features of your chainsaw, how they function and how they’re maintained.

What we say

Chainsaw safety is extremely important and could save your life! If ever in doubt, always ask a professional. Whether it’s the dealer you purchase from, the manufacturer or a professional tree surgeon – never go in blind. Preparation is key.

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