More Chain Saw Safety
Watch a Video Safety on your mind…
Download Sue Weaver’s farm-safety checklist to get you on the right track.  |
Do you know how to handle a chain saw safely?
Husqvarna, one of the world’s largest producers chain saws and other outdoor products, has held chain saw demo days at its dealer centers to help consumers learn first-hand chain saw skills, techniques and safety tips.
Three Basic Safety Tips
Three critical items Husqvarna instructs you to do before you start up your chain saw include:
- Always wear protective clothing: work gloves, eye and ear protection, chain saw protective pants or chaps, helmet and boots.
- When cutting, stand on firm ground to the side of the saw furthest from the chain. Keep an escape route open, in case the tree unexpectedly shifts or rolls. Never stand on a log pile while cutting.
- When cutting a pile of wood, watch the position of the chain saw tip. Make sure the chain saw tip does not come in contact with any logs behind the one you are cutting. Such contact may cause the saw to “kickback.”
Before You Buy a Chain Saw
Things to keep in mind when buying a chain saw:
- Safety. Using the correct techniques when you work makes your work a great deal safer and easier. Ask your Husqvarna dealer for Husqvarna’s material on chain saw techniques. Be sure to use approved protective clothing.
- The first question you should ask is how the saw will be used: professionally, for private use, etc. This will determine which type and size of saw you should choose.
- Weight and engine size. Remember that a light saw is easier to maneuver if you’re not too experienced. But don’t choose too small an engine: more power gets the job done faster, even if you’re “just” sawing wood.
- Size and hardness of the wood. Select a bar length based on the size of the trees. The stronger the engine, the longer the bar you can combine it with.
- Ergonomic engineering and design. Low vibration levels in the handle, a slim, well-balanced saw body and a high center of gravity are welcome features, even if you only use the saw for part of the day. Good ergonomics can be just as important as low weight.
- Safety features. Efficient kickback protection is a requirement in most countries, but how easy is it to replace a chain catcher stud that has been broken off?
- Do you work in winter? Winterization, for instance with heated handles, makes work more efficient and comfortable.
- Is the saw easy to maintain and service? Good access to the air filter and spark plug, and chain tensioning from the side save time and effort.
Source: Husqvarna, one of the world’s largest producers of lawn mowers, chain saws and portable gas-powered garden equipment such as trimmers and blowers.
For more information about chain saws and other outdoor equipment visit Husqvarna’s Master Your Great Outdoors website.
Read an interview with Dave Zerfoss, president of Husqvarna Forest & Garden.
