Chainsaw safety is a critically important issue to consider when you intend to use one. The hazards it poses to your life and well-being are very significant and cannot be ignored.
Hence the team at Croft Tree Experts would like you to know 5 tips to improve chainsaw safety.
1. Avoid Injuries With The Right Grip
Avoiding injuries is a very big part of chainsaw safety. One of the best ways to do so is to ensure that your grip on the chainsaw is optimal. When done correctly, you can avoid the most common chainsaw injuries.
You need to have an encircling grip on the front handle of the chainsaw when using it. This involves your thumb wrapped around the handle with your fingers in support while the chainsaw is in use. This grip allows for maximum stability, especially in the event of a kickback.
Also, if you need to move with the chainsaw as it runs, it is best to hold it by only the front handle and let it swing by your side. This way, if you trip and fall with the chainsaw in hand, the engine will be less likely to accidentally accelerate and spin the chain.
2. Protect Yourself With The Right Gear
Even with all the tips and expertise available, the risks of using a chainsaw are still prevalent. Hence, you should have the necessary PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) to help you in emergency situations and maintain your chainsaw safety.
A helmet and steel-toed boots can protect you from falling logs and tree branches. A face shield and ear protection can protect you from flying debris and the chainsaw’s noise. There are chaps made to resist chainsaw blades that can save your legs in unfortunate situations.
3. Monitor Your Chainsaw’s Sharpness
Chainsaw safety is much easier to maintain with a sharp chainsaw than with a dull one, so you should keep an eye out for the signs that your chain is becoming dull.
If you find yourself forcing the chainsaw into the cut instead of just guiding the saw, your chain is getting blunt. Also, if the byproduct of your cutting is dust, not chips, you should be sharpening your chainsaw as soon as possible.
4. Use the Recommended Zones Only
The best way to use a chainsaw is to cut with the bottom of the bar. In this position, the saw’s pull is easy to control as long as you have a firm grip. Cutting with the top of the bar is more uncomfortable but, with a strong grip and good bracing on the ground, you should be fine.
However, you should always avoid the kickback zone, located on the top half of the tip of the chainsaw. If this section makes contact with any surface while the chainsaw is active, it will be thrown up and back toward the operator. A good grip can prevent this from causing damage but the best policy is to avoid the kickback zone always.
5. Store Safely
Even at rest, a chainsaw can be dangerous if its storage is poor. Not only does it pose a risk to those who regularly use the space it is located in, but it is also subject to the effects of the elements. That can lead to rust, corrosion, and other damaging situations that make it more dangerous to use without maintenance.
As such, you should ensure that your chainsaw is stored in a place that keeps it away from others and also protects it from elemental wear and tear. A great protective technique is using foam pipe insulation to protect the blade of the chainsaw.
Croft Tree Experts – Ottawa Arborists Services
Handling a chainsaw with safety on your mind is crucial to preventing accidents and other unfortunate incidents. Following the safety tips should allow you to use a chainsaw and cut down what you need safely.
However, no matter how hard you try, there will always be some risk when you use a chainsaw. To be perfectly safe at all times, you should always leave the kind of work that requires a chainsaw to the professionals.
Please contact us if you need any large-scale arboreal work done on your property. Croft Tree Experts provides the best arborist services in Ottawa and the Valley. We provide unmatched expertise in tree removal, tree pruning, tree stump removal and so many other services. Contact us to help you take care of your property.