I've honestly never thought about it. Until recently I didn't even know these things exists. I know guys on tree service crews and I have seen them, but I just thought part of the uniform. I'm an occasional cutter, maybe half dozen times a years or so. I'm thinkin now. My dad once caught my glove with a running chainsaw. Ripped right through the leather and my thumb nail in a millisecond. I'd hate to see what it would do to leg. I am always very careful and thoughtful with how I move with a saw. Working with machinery all my life with my job I've always taught those I'm working with to respect the equipment. It won't give a second thought to hurting you so you have to think for yourself. Now that you all have shown me the need for this I may have to heed my own message.
Only wear them when I there is possibility that I may do something stupid which is every time I start the saws. Not as young as I used to be which does not help either. Would like to get older so I do wear them.
To some who did not like my post I also cut for years with no chain brake. Well, nobody did then nor did anyone wear safety chaps as those were not yet invented. As for the safety shoes, I never liked them and in winter, they make your toes even colder.
Many years ago, my dentist was cutting and decided to cut a limb just about face high, the saw kicked back and hit him in the face, right eye and right cheek bone actually. My neighbor, cutting with him, took him to the emergency room and after a long surgery, he survived but his face ain't to pretty anymore. Thats why I wear the Stihl helmet with ear protection and mesh face shield. Things happen and I have used up most of my 9 lives.
In our early married life, Woodwidow and Self lived in small remote logging Community (Company Town) with only boat or air access. The air strip was a widened stretch of logging road 1,600 feet long. We had a Cessna 150 for transportation at this time. In this neck of the woods, weather can change very quickly, and we had no access to aviation weather until 10 minutes out. On one of her weekly shopping trips, when she left in the morning, the weather still looked reasonably good. 4 hours later when she returned, a mean system with heavy rain wind (frontal activity) had moved in. Within a month we found a much better place to work and live with a 4,000 foot strip, access to pre-trip weather and road access if the weather was bad. No old bold pilots rang load and clear to me.
Its a great discussion and I hope everyone learns something and I also hope everyone is safe. To much amazing knowledge here on wood processing and would hate to see anything happen to anyone. Accidents are called accidents for a reason! Most of us are blue collar guys and we all hate when the "safety man" harps on us, but we also all enjoy going home the same way we came to work.
This thread just reminded me of something I had forgotten. My grandfather way back in the early 70's was using a chain saw. Same thing, cutting a branch around head high. The saw kicked and hit him in the head. They didn't think was too bad until he started acting strange from then on. He developed a brain tumor and lost that fight over the next couple years. Although I wear no protection I have inbred in myself that safety is number one. When I go to cut my first thoughts are of every thing that could happen and how will I respond if need be. I take no chances. But I do know mistakes and accidents are not planned. I think you guys have convinced me of something I can not ignore anymore. I am the oldest grandchild and only the next in line even has any memory of my grandfather. He was 63 when he passed, much like Charlie, way too young.
In this neck of the woods, spacing of naturally seeded second growth began in a big way in the 70s. These spacing job were contracted out with most of the workers being hired off the street with little or no woods experience and it was deemed that the small saws with short bars, 10 -12 inch, posed little or no safety risk. Hard hats, caulk boats and gloves were the only protective gear required and there was no instruction on the use of these small saws working in what is now considered a very dangerous work environment. In a very short time these jobs had the highest frequency of accidents and fatalities in the woods. IMO small saws with short bars create the greatest risk if there is any brush or small limbs present.
The list is long on power equipment that "looks" tame, but can take a big bite out of folks. I've found the small saplings & brush to be where I get the most surprises too. I mentioned it before… when I started wearing chaps, I learned quickly they were awesome bulling thru thorny brush, etc. My jeans last a lot longer too…
