Tips on Chainsaw Safety

Owning a chainsaw to help cut wood to heat your home or for removal of trees and branches is certainly handy, but it does come with some risks. Chainsaws are powerful and sharp the speed at which they can cut through a 12 inch logs is a testament to just how fast they could injure a person if not used carefully.

Unfortunately thousands of accidents happen each year with a chainsaw and many of them are preventable if only the operator heeded the safety warnings and learned how to properly operate the chainsaw.

Below are a few tips to keep in mind when operating a chainsaw.

Use the Right Size For The Job
Using a chainsaw that is too large or too small for the job can make using the chainsaw quite dangerous. If you have a chainsaw with a 24 inch bar, it's not wise to use to for cutting 6 inch logs. A large chainsaw may cut through the logs too fast and catch you off guard, which could cause you to slip. Also, having too much power for the job, while making it a fast process might also be a bad idea. If you are using a chainsaw often, considering purchasing a larger one and a smaller one so that you can use them for the job that they are intended.

Wear Protective Clothing
When operating a chainsaw, make sure that you are wearing the proper clothing to keep you safe while operating a chainsaw. Some of the items that you should purchase include a boots, preferably with steel toes and made of leather, earplugs to protect your ears from the excessive noise and safety glasses to protect your eyes from flying debris.

Check Chainsaw Before Using
Before you start the chainsaw, check the chain tension, make sure all bolts are tight and check fluid levels.

Proper Starting
Although it may be easier to start a chainsaw while holding it in one hand, avoid this. Place the chainsaw on the ground and start.

Proper Carrying
If you are going to be carrying a chainsaw over rough terrain, make sure to engage the chain brake or completely shut the chainsaw off.

Proper Cutting Technique
Do not start cutting from the tip of the chainsaw as it's possible for the chainsaw to kick-back quite a bit. Some saws have a tip guard, which should not be removed.

Sharpening
In order for the chainsaw to work properly, it must always be sharp. You can either take it to a local store to have it sharpened, or purchase one of many different types of chainsaw sharpeners so that you can do it at home.

Holding The Chainsaw Properly
In order to operate the chainsaw safely, never use the chainsaw in a position higher than your chest. Also, never overreach. If you need to move into a different position, then move. Stretching will cause you to lose your balance and could result in a serious accident.

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Tags: chainsaw, Chainsaw Safety, using a chainsaw

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