Any interest in starting a safety thread? I kind of started thinking about this when we had the raffle for the young gal, sorry can't remember her name, that got her hand messed up in a splitter. Never heard how, but it may have given someone else a moment of thought while splitting. Well Seasoned has a thread Personal Protection Equipment with some good advice. I have not had a medical type injury from wood cutting but some you may have. I have had many many ouchies. Kind of thinking that it may be helpful to prevent injuries to a fellow hoarder. I think about the possibility of injury when I approach a job. We all know about a tree falling on us, but what about the small jobs? If someone shares their experience, injuries or near misses, it just my prevent someone else from getting hurt in the same way. Just a thought. Any interest?
No first or second hand experience with firewood related activities here. I am looking forward to keeping it that way. Gloves Chaps Hearing protection Helmet, when danger overhead No adult beverages, until the saw is put away. With all that, it is always good to have refreshers/reminders to stay safe.
I bought my first pair of chaps a few years ago after I got hurt because of a weak left side. Well while “teaching” my son and another boy how to buck up, son had chaps on. I was stepping back over a piece and well my weak left arm showed up at the perfect time. Saw was winding down an just “grazed” my knee. I told them that’s what not to do and handed the saw back. Half a tube of superglue and some liquid skin and tape and the bleeding stopped. But a reminder it only takes a second for a saw to slice flesh. I’m reminded every day when I look at my left knee. Jagged 3” scar. But another thing I’d mention would be, warm up a little stretch or something before starting and STOP when you get tired or weak. And drink more water than you think you need! Be safe ! Wood always heats you twice, unless you rehandle like I do then it’s four or five times!
Thank you for the testimonial. That is exactly what I am thinking about. I started cutting in the late '60s. As far as I know chaps haven't been invented. About 3 years ago My wife asked what I wanted for Christmas. I said "Chaps". What I got was high quality leather biker chaps. I wrestled a couple of days before I told her that wasn't want I was wanting. She gave me the receipt and said to exchange them. Now if I am going cutting the chaps are always on. How could I face her while laying in the ER? I can hear it now." Why weren't you wearing the chaps that I bought you." " I was just cutting one piece" isn't going to fly. I think about that each time I go to cutting.
I have a set of chaps up at my parents house in NY, and they are all sorts of nicked and I think one good gash down by the shin... not one of those came from a saw. The PPE we wear saves us from more of the little things, and if it cut the chaps then imagine what it would have done to me, probably nothing life threatening but would have hurt. My guess is most of those came from pushing through brush and climbing on the old tractor or in the wagon. Those are retired, but they still hang next to the newer ones in the basement stairway just in case I guess.
Safety is something we all keep in mind but I think it is wrong to dwell on it. You might end up like old Job. "The thing I feared has come upon me." I'd much rather think about things going right rather than wrong.
I think of it kinda like this, just my way of thinking. Safety is like prayer. Before you get into anything it should be in the front of your mind. But while your doing whatever the situation is, it should at least always be in the back of your mind, while we concentrate on the task. Wood always heats you twice, unless you rehandle like I do then it’s four or five times!
