Chain Saw Safety 10-4 training 10 Slides, 4 minutes Lehigh/Hanson Region West Safety and Health

First and foremost – read the instructions from the manufacturer. A properly maintained saw is in itself a safety measure. A dull chain will cause you to overwork the saw. Improper chain tension can cause the chain to break Lack of bar oil will cause the bar to wear more quickly and the chain to derail. Clean air filter, good spark plug and muffler will allow the engine to run better making your work easier. Always wear gloves or use a heavy rag when handling the chain. A sharp chain cuts wood better, but it can also inflict serious injury. Always adjust the bar/chain tension so that the chain does not move when the saw is idling. 2

 Keep the saw in a carrying case when not in use or at least put the chain guard on the bar.  Never carry a chain saw in the passenger area of a vehicle. You do not want it flying around if you have an accident.  When carrying the saw in a vehicle, secure the saw from movement and keep the saw with fuel cap up to prevent the fuel from leaking.  Always carry the saw at your side with the cutting bar and chain to the rear and to the outside. 3

 Store your fuel in an approved container.  Allow saw to cool before fueling.  Use a funnel or pouring spout to prevent spills.  Fuel the saw on bare ground.  Always tighten the fuel container cap when not in use.  Clean up any spills and move fuel container at least 10’ from saw before starting. 4

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is a must when using a chain saw. The intended purpose of PPE is not to allow you to work dangerously, it is to mitigate the seriousness of an injury if you are involved in an incident. 5

6 Do not use this method of starting. Trying to start a saw like this can result in serious injury. When you are holding the saw with only one hand on the handle like in the picture, the saw has a propensity to tip toward the leg. As this hand goes up, the bar and chain tips down and in toward the leg area. Always use a safe starting method when starting saw. A lot of the injuries occur during starting because the worker does not have control of the saw. The preferred method is to place the saw on the ground or a large stump as shown:

7 The position of the thumbs is very important for control of the saw. Notice in the picture how the thumbs are closing the loop and not just resting on the grips. This allows for positive control of the saw.

The most common cause of chainsaw cuts is from kickback. 8 Use a saw equipped with chain brake or kickback guard. Hold the saw firmly with both hands. Grip the top handle by putting your thumb around it. Watch for twigs that can snag the chain. Don't pinch the chain while cutting the log. Do not reach above your shoulder to cut. The chain is too close to your face in this position Saw with the lower part of the bar close to the bumper, not on the top near the nose. Maintain high saw speed when entering or leaving a cut. Keep the chain sharp. Kickback occurs when the saw rotates back, or "kicks back" at the operator, due to the nose of the saw contacting an object or obstruction. To prevent kickback:

 Avoid making cuts with the saw between your legs  Do not stand on a log and saw between your feet  Stand to one side of the limb you are cutting  Be mindful of where the chain would go if it should break – do not cut with others in line with the chain  Keep the chain out of the dirt and rocks  Do not put yourself in a position where you are off balance or in danger of tripping over debris 9

◦ Be sure the fallen tree is stable ◦ Stand on the uphill side when removing limbs ◦ Always keep both hands on the saw when cutting ◦ Be cautious of limbs that may be under tension – they may spring back when the tension is released ◦ Use a wedge to keep the log from binding the saw ◦ Always stand to the side of the saw – not directly behind it. 10