I was at a friends place and there’s a private airstrip close , herd a helicopter so went to check it out, rescue workers said man working for a tree service had a chainsaw kick back and cut him down the eye rescuers said he still had vision, I am praying he has a quick and full recovery !
It’s a bad thing for that guy, but I need to hear stories like that to remind me to be more careful. I think I got kind of careless while cutting a couple days this week
Indeed. Getting tired and still going is often the beginning of an accident. Much like, "Hold my beer and watch this."
Thanks to this post I just ordered some chaps. Never worn them before and luckily never needed them but better safe than sorry.
You made a good decision. I have some chaps but did not always wear them. I have to admit that I have cut my leg two times with a chainsaw. A chainsaw cut is not clean, but a jagged tearing type of cut and not to mention I ruined two pairs of jeans. Chaps are the way to go.
Chaps are cheap compared to an ER visit. Think Kevlar. Think of full PPE as chainsaw condoms ( am I allowed to say this ? ).
I just know that after using a saw for 40+ years without a mishap that I've gotten complacent and too comfortable with a saw. Some might even say a little careless sometimes. It's good to refocus and remember to concentrate on what you are doing. Wearing the chaps will help remind me of the consequences of carelessness.
I read the average chainsaw injury is over 100 stitches. Chaps are definitively the cheaper alternative. Would a visor have saved him though is the question here? May have bounced off? I never wear a hardhat/visor screened/shield
Full PPE! That and a bucket load of caution will go a long way in keeping you safe. And one more thing, remember what Harry said:
Well I would be a liar if I denied that. I still had a bunch of cutting I needed to finish up with and you just do what you have to do. I do always take my wife with me just in case of a really serious accident and of course the duct tape.
YOU WHAT....bring your wife !!!?? Other than blood stop, duct tape will do. Full PPE , chainsaw condoms of the stars. I don't want anyone close by when felling....no one. P.S. Never wore hearing or eye protection, or sun hats or sun screen. Now I say "WHAAAAAT". Need eye surgery. And half of one ear and a slice of nose are gone. Woe is me. Wear the helmet system. It only takes a sliver or that widow maker on high.
Man, that's like the fourth one I've heard about just in the past month. Our meat farmer cut his leg, fortunately not too bad, last week. Another farmer we used to buy chicken from took the tip of the bar right in the face couple years ago, buried it right alongside his nose, from his upper jaw to just under his eye. It was gruesome but could have been soooo much worse.
Climbing trees and running chainsaws when tied into them is risky stuff...... I nicked one of my tie-is with my chainsaw the other day when doing that big spruce job, while tied in the tree........thankfully when I'm up in the tree I have two tie-ins, but I still nicked a rope, and that's scary stuff...... I sincerely pray this man makes a full recovery.......
That’s a good point. Just wearing safety gear is a constant reminder to be safe and of the danger involved that often we forget about due to experience and complacency. That conscious mental awareness alone is paramount.
When I first was learning to use a chainsaw I was instructed to always lock my extended arm elbow to prevent a kickback from hitting me in the face. If your elbow is locked and the saw kicks back it flies over your head instead of right into your face. Have to admit sometimes I get too comfortable and don’t do that. Good reminder what can happen when you least expect it. Solution: expect it. Slow down. Take breaks when tired. Think about what could possibly go wrong before you begin work.
