Firewood cutting accidents

[Mike PA]

I was cutting up a white pine this weekend and got a little careless with the tip of the saw and had a small kickback. No big deal, just a good reminder to pay more attention, but it got me to wondering how many firewood guys have some kind of accident, whether its getting hit by the saw, a branch, or dropping a tree on something. The worst thing that has happened to me is I got hit on the head by a small branch that broke off when I dropped a tree. hurt a little, but no noticable damage.

I am hoping to hear other people's experience, whether you've had a problem or not.

 

[coog]

I was cutting with an elderly friend years ago.He was an old farm boy, WW2 vet, etc...no fool.His little Mac reared back on him and cut a groove in his seed cap that got within about an inch of his forehead.It got his attention, as he soon became the designated tractor/truck driver.

 

[husky455rancher]

i cut into my upper thigh last summer. it was wicked hot out and i was pretty tired. glad i had the chaps on. i was alone and i dunno if i woulda got outta where i was at had i actually cut my thigh all apart.

ive had some near missed with widow makers falling from above. none hit my helmit yet but have come pretty close.

nothing too gruesome to tell of yet thank god.

 

[Mike PA]

That's a close one. Good thing for chaps. I still don't own a pair, but I need to change that. One of the reasons I asked this question is because I read about a lot of accidents with saws. I've never had an accident and never really been close to having one, but is it just a matter of time until I cut myself, given that I use a saw a good bit?

 

[Wood Billy]

When I was young, dumb, and stupid I was up in a tree without any safety equipment. I was holding myself in the tree with one hand and cutting with the other. The saw kicked back and chewed up my ring and pinky fingers pretty badly (didn't loose them). I started to climb down with the saw and decided better of it and dropped the saw and propmtly went to the ER.

 

[Nuzzy]

Had a Stihl splitting hatchet shoot out of a round after getting hit with a sledge and strike me in the knee. That sucked cause we were camping. Didn't want to leave so I just dealt with it without stitches. Now there's a neat hard bump there.

Luckily that's the worst I've had.

 

[MJR]

I have had more problems with people than saws.

 

[coog]

Well, just this once...

 

[Kiliam]

My stepfather gave me his older Homelite xl12 a while back. I was out back at my mothers house bucking up some fallen limbs from a storm and stuffed the nose of the bar in my shin. It chewed up the bone pretty good and filled my boot up with blood. Needless to say I watch where and how I stand a lot more carefully now.

Karl

 

[Kunes]

Saw kinda sorta kicked back at me today, got pinched in a little tree log thing and didn't like that very much. everytime i split wood i dont hit the round right on and i get a little 3/4-1 inch slice that comes off the round and those things FLY away hope i don't get hit by one..

 

[Marc]

My dad's an old farmer (don't let him catch me callin him old) and was taught how to use a saw the same way most farmers were in New England... on their own or by the next older generation.

Almost all his practices are sound, except for the way he used to fall (good ol' angled back cut). He managed not to get himself in trouble even with that after 40+ years of cutting by being very conservative and never tackling anything questionable. Also has a lot of common sense, just not about that thing. I'm converting him slowly though.

General saw handling technique though... always both hands on the saw, thumb under the handle, cut a little on the compressed side and the majority on the tensioned side... always avoid having your face, and if possible the rest of you, in the kick back path (he reminded me of this often).

Working slowly and methodically, plus the safety and technique tips I've learned from various other sources I think has kept me safe *knocks lots of wood*. I still wear all my PPE because, sort of like driving a car, one can still have a problem no matter how skilled an operator one is. Somethings are just beyond our control.

 

[wistattman]

Accidents

This past weekend, I was falling a dead white oak on a hillside when I got hit on the head with a branch. I was lucky that it wasn't a large branch and that I was wearing my Stihl Forestry helmet. The helmet took the blunt of the impact and never caused any problems to me. I purchased the forestry helmet last year after reading many of the threads on this website about the advantages of wearing a forestry helmet. I had been wearing safety chaps, steel toed boots, and leather gloves for several years.

Thanks to all the guys and gals on this website that preach about safety and wearing PPE. A person needs to take all the precautions when operating a chainsaw.

Gary

 

[kbiv]

Reading the log during the bucking has left me some interesting memories. Was stupidly standing on a 20 incher that was off of the ground. My cut was apparently deeper than I thought. Twisted under me and threw me off the log with the saw landing on my chaps. Funny, I should listen to that stupid little voice in my head. The last thing I thought before starting the cut was that this was stupid, and I need to hit the chain brake if anything goes bad. When you feel the need to rehearse the contingency plan for the bad things, maybe you should change tactics...
Another time, the log I bucked apparently kicked off, hitting the tree next to me, and causing a chain reaction that somhow ended up with a nickel size dent in my hard hat and a ringing in my ears. Don't want to think about what would have happened if I had been wearing plastic.

 

[Kunes]

what does PPE stand for...i know it's chaps and what not but whats the acronym.

 

[coog]

Purple People Eaters.Go Vikes!!

 

[Wife'nHubby]

what does PPE stand for...i know it's chaps and what not but whats the acronym.

PPE = Personal Protection Equipment

Shari

 

[valekbrothers]

PPE = Personal Protective Equipment

 

[TreePointer]

Prevent
Pilgrimage to
Emergency room

 

[Ductape]

Well, just this once...

Hey coog, is that actually you? That looks kinds nasty.

 

[slinger]

The old (75+) logger that sold me my 2165 said to me as I was about to leave his saw shop "Did ya ever see a person who was cut real bad with a saw"?

I said no, not really.

"Well it looks like the flesh is just kinda shredded".

I took that as my safety speech from him and I think about what he said often.