Local man killed by chainsaw

[CHDinCT]

Thanks to this forum, I asked for a pair of chaps for last Father's day and now where them every time I cut. Haven't had a close call yet, but you can't be too careful. Probably should get the helmet and full face shield too.

From the news article it sound like he was cutting above his waist, which I have done, but I won't use the saw above my shoulders. I know of a tragedy years ago where a guy was cutting above his shoulders when the saw kicked back and cut him in the neck. He never made it to the hospital. It sounds like this unfortunate fella must have cut a main artery. Such a shame.

 

[valley]

Chaps and helmet good idea. I do wear ear and eye protection. You can't be too careful.

 

[Transit]

Careful how you sharpen the saw chains. Each tooth has a depth control link before it that sets the depth that each tooth may cut. Take too much off that link and the chain is too aggressive, too little and the tooth skims along the kurf.

 

[patrick_g]

Yes all of the protective gear is a good plan. Hard hat, ear and eye protection, chaps, gloves. Then other things to keep in mind is the right sized saw. Another thing is not working while you are too tired. The reflexes are a bit slower if you are tired and dehydrated. Using a big heavy saw can wear you out faster. I only use my big saws when I need them. I use the limbing saws with the 16" bar 70% of the time. Then I have 20" bars 25" bars and a 40" bar for the really big cuts.
Most of us have near miss stories. The good Lord has been watching over me for 40+ years cutting with chainsaws. No stitches just a few scars..

Right on! Well said. Why play Russian Roulette with your chain saw. Accidents happen, even to the careful and safety conscious. Proper gear is cheaper than a good gash.

I have had some near misses that changed my attitude when thinking what if. I had a really nifty pair of insulated lace up boots. Really HD soles and uppers. Totally waterproof the first few inches up and great in the snow or slush or mud. Luckily my toes didn't quite reach the end. (I wear mostly size 13 and sometimes 14 depending on style need for multiple layers of socks or...) One brief brush of a little 16 inch Mac Eager Beaver and I had a ventilated left toe box on that boot. Dang... I thought they were steel cap toes... NOT!

No more Wally World Velcro closure cheapo shoes while chainsawing, only steel toes.

Steel toe boots + gloves + chaps + helmet with visor, neck flap, wire mesh face shield, and ear protection.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion regarding chainsaw safety equipment. I'm OK with other guys who don't use it, especially if their problems don't cause me problems. But then I don't mind at all if someone wants to play Russian Roulette so long as it doesn't involve me very much. Better to let Darwin purge the gene pool than have them burden our society.

Pat

 

[Egon]

There are proper boots used when chainsawing. They offer more protection than just steel toes.

The old fellow up the tree is wearing a pair that are very common in his area. They are shown in the second picture.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

There are proper boots used when chainsawing. They offer more protection than just steel toes.

The old fellow up the tree is wearing a pair that are very common in his area. They are shown in the second picture.

It doesn't look like he is wearing eye protection or a Safety belt..At least his feet are protected

 

[Egon]

Wearing glasses, the flip down shield kept getting caught in branches. Don't got a belt but there were plenty of branches.

In this instance the old guy was climbing up the tree to attach a rope. The rope was tensioned and then the tree cut off at ground level.

There was a power line quite near.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Wearing glasses, the flip down shield kept getting caught in branches. Don't got a belt but there were plenty of branches.

In this instance the old guy was climbing up the tree to attach a rope. The rope was tensioned and then the tree cut off at ground level.

There was a power line quite near.

Is that you Egon? Yeah I didn't see a saw in his hands. Those flip up face shields aren't useful in a tree at all. It's bad enough wearing a climbing harness with a chainsaw attached and a climbing line. They can snag on lot's of stuff. I did see the power line in the photo. Nothing like a little adrenaline rush cutting close to power lines

 

[Egon]

Is that you Egon?

Yup, that's me up a tree. Only chain saw I'd take up a tree would be electric on a long rope that would be pulled up once I got to where I was going.

My two other saws are too heavy for an old man to handle up a tree.

The last time I took a gas saw up I was happily cutting off limbs and looked down to see my ladder laying on the ground under one of the larger limbs. I was out alone!

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Well Egon for an old Man you at least can still climb tree's! Eventually I might grow up enough and stop climbing. I still don't mind swinging around on a big tree after pushing over a big top..