Local man killed by chainsaw

[PhilNH5]

An off duty police officer was clearing brush when his saw kicked back. He was able to call 911 but was dead when EMTs arrived. Be careful out there.

Bow Police Officer Killed In Chainsaw Accident - New Hampshire News Story - WMUR Manchester

Phil

 

[YukonKing]

I've been running saw commercially since I was 15, I am now 28. I have only nicked the fuzz a couple times on my saw pants when the saw was spooling down. However i have seen my co-workers bury it in the pants. They Work. But I can still not convince my dad or father in law to wear them. They also have not cut themselves "yet"...............wish they would wear them.

 

[yomax4]

I cut a LOT of wood. I heat with an outdoor wood boiler. I run all sizes of saws and really have not had a kick back. i use Full Chisel, Non Safety Chains. I have noticed that higher rpm's tend to keep the saw from kicking back. I know when the tip of the bar is doing the cutting, You can get a kick back but for some lucky reason it doesn't seem to be common. What situations have caused Kicks when you all are cutting?

Yomax.

 

[whistlepig]

I knew a fellow that tried to "plunge cut" with a chainsaw. It kicked back and the blade cut through his jacket and shirt. It also made a six inch long slice on his sternum. It cut all his chest muscles loose from his sternum. Not a life threatening injury. The doctor just bandaged it up. He was one sore and miserable puppy for six months until this healed up.

 

[Dead Horse]

It ain't a play thing............

gotta pay attention and treat it with respect. There are a LOT of ways to seriously hurt yourself logging....... Thinking about every action and being situationally aware goes a long way to staying in one piece.

I cut a LOT of fire wood, like another poster, I heat my home with a wood boiler. I cut spars, use a forest winch/skidder and the other standard tools needed to put up 12 to 15 cord a year, by myself.

Slow and steady gets it done. Use your brain, be the smartst thing in the woods........ Your life depends on it.

 

[Dead Horse]

Pay attention..... when you are cutting with a chain saw, the only thing you should be thinking about is that saw and the material you are working on.

Day dream and shyte happens. Trees under tension are dangerous as ****....

 

[beenthere]

I cut a LOT of wood. I heat with an outdoor wood boiler. I run all sizes of saws and really have not had a kick back. i use Full Chisel, Non Safety Chains. I have noticed that higher rpm's tend to keep the saw from kicking back. I know when the tip of the bar is doing the cutting, You can get a kick back but for some lucky reason it doesn't seem to be common. What situations have caused Kicks when you all are cutting?

Yomax.

I'm with you on the kickback. Doesn't happen if the rpm are kept up. Happens when the rpms are slow or slowing down, or not up to full throttle. Twice I've had a kick back, and both times when in thick brush using the chainsaw to clear the brush. Both times, happened quick and cut into the chaps, but were when rpm was dropping. Another time knicked the chaps when the idle was set too high, and I was ignoring it. Using the brake would have helped that time, but I ignore that too.
I always wear my chaps. And I buy a new pair when I knick a pair.

Kickback is real, and I'm not suggesting it isn't. But it is more likely to happen with a light saw running at less than WOT. I believe.

 

[Mace Canute]

This reminds me of what a fellow worker did a few years back...he was wanting to cut out some old supports on a wood deck he was rebuilding so he dragged the company chainsaw home to do the little bit of cutting with. Trouble was, he had to cut from below in a crawl space and to line up the blade to the correct cut mark, he held it directly above his face. Did I mention he only had a couple of feet total of space? Anyways, it kicked back on him...lucky bugger only got the tiniest bit of skin taken off his upper lip...I've seen worse done with a disposable razor. He didn't seem to realize just how close a call he actually had. Makes me cringe just remembering it.

Dead Horse, you hit the nail squarely on the head! Using your brain, paying attention and not day dreaming are the most important things when it comes to working safely!

 

[Thomas]

Sad indeed.
<_________________> RIP.
I look at chainsaw kinda like this..it has no feeling would rather harm operator,so darn good grip at all times.

 

[Low Bucket]

That's very sad to hear.

I once cut my coveralls after I pulled the saw from a log.- I didn't get cut, but it changed me to start wearing chaps.

Everyone please be careful.

 

[Jaylegger]

To prevent my 6 year from rotting his brain indoors playing video games I let him use my chainsaw. And before all safety police freak out, yes I've told him how to use it safely. Live free or die!

 

[beenthere]

Jaylegger
That would be worth a pic. Got one to post?

 

[Jaylegger]

Jaylegger
That would be worth a pic. Got one to post?

That's good.

 

[JB4310]

.

Chain saws are one of those tools you kinda have to have the attitude that it's trying to kill you (as they in fact sometimes do) with that way if thinking you will give it the greatest amount of respect.
Not saying be afraid of it, just respect it, like a gun.

To prevent my 6 year from rotting his brain indoors playing video games I let him use my chainsaw. And before all safety police freak out, yes I've told him how to use it safely. Live free or die!

When I see my kids hanging around doing nothing, I tell them why don't they go down and play on the train tracks like I did when I was young.
This gets me an immediate "go to the dog house" reaction from the wife!

.

 

[patrick_g]

Chaps, chaps, chaps.... EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT CHAPS! Yeah, I got some. I use them some of the time and hope to use them all the time but what about a helmet???????????

I wear the Husky helmet with wire mesh face shield and plastic flap in rear to keep dust out of your collar when cutting high. I use the built in ear protection too. The helmet has protected my noggin from several good hits that would have been bad news if I had not been wearing it.

Pat

 

[Jaylegger]

.When I see my kids hanging around doing nothing, I tell them why don't they go down and play on the train tracks like I did when I was young.
This gets me an immediate "go to the dog house" reaction from the wife!
.

As a kid I used to love hanging around the tracks squishing coins and enjoying the might of the spectacle. I truly believe you really have to work hard to get hit by a train, it's not like you can't hear the thing coming or anything, but I never let my own kids go anywhere near them. Often the line between real and perceived danger gets blurred but generally I resort to the "might is right" rule.

 

[Max2310]

That's a very sad story. I do realize the danger but after hours of use I become comfortable and don't take all the precautions I should (proper clothing, security glasses, proper positioning and so on). And sometime you just need to do a quick cut so why bother -- bad answer!

I recently upgraded my chainsaw, went from a Poulan pro 260 to a Sthil 440 magnum -- that thing is a monster. The bigger teeth throw stuff at me that my other saw wouldn't. At least, I can't hold this one with one hand while cutting over my head to reach higher branches (that's one good example of what not to do). And cutting with the tip of the saw increases the danger of kick back by allots.

I've been rethinking my strategy and I don't think I will continue using the new saw (or the old saw) the way I used too. I could have very well been the guy in this article and it gives me chills. I've been thinking allot about this lately especially that I work alone 99% of the time and it's the second horrible story I hear this week regarding chainsaw fatalities. I will adjust myself.

Thanks for sharing. Work safe and make sure you and your saw are top shape while cutting.

 

[blueriver]

To prevent my 6 year from rotting his brain indoors playing video games I let him use my chainsaw. And before all safety police freak out, yes I've told him how to use it safely. Live free or die!

NO WAY in the world a six year old is man enough to handle a chainsaw ... even with all the safety training ... simply put NOT MAN ENOUGH to handle a chainsaw ...

 

[Jaylegger]

NO WAY in the world a six year old is man enough to handle a chainsaw ... even with all the safety training ... simply put NOT MAN ENOUGH to handle a chainsaw ...

It was a saracstic remark which I felt encompassed the attitude of a few recent posts in the safety forum.

 

[blueriver]

It was a saracstic remark which I felt encompassed the attitude of a few recent posts in the safety forum.

OKAY ... missed that part of it ... glad it was that way!!