Buddy hurt in saw accident...Wear your chaps/pants!

[SteveH]

I cut for years with an old Echo that had no chain brake or stop, no safety things at all. Didn't bother me. No chaps, etc. Then, after about 20 yr., a falling tree I'd cut rotated as it went down and a long, long limb came around from behind me and knocked me down. The saw bar landed resting flat on my thigh, chain still moving a little, and the whole schmear jammed down against my leg by the limb. No cuts, not even damage to my pants. My finger was off the trigger, or I might not be telling this.

Thought I knew what I was doing and felt really good about my technique. But after that incident I realized I was always a split second away from something too terrible to think about. Well, to tell the truth, I already knew that and thought that awareness of the risk and good, careful technique would protect me enough. But it only takes one time to make a mess.

I started saving my pennies and got myself a new, up-to-date saw with all the safety gizmos. While saving, I was looking thru a safety clothing catalog and noticed chainsaw chaps. Never had seen or heard of them, don't know anyone around here who uses them. I thought, "Well look there at those things" and ordered a pair pronto. I never cut without them.

I feel like I had my one chance and was really lucky.

 

[PWB]

Haven't heard back from him yet, going to call him tonight to see how he's getting along. Still waiting to see the pictures. I know personally how easy it happens, my chainsaw pants have been cut twice in the left thigh, just enough to tear the fabric, not to get into the kevlar. Both times caused by getting careless when I had been cutting too long, tired. Mistakes happen! No chainsaw pants and I might be in the same boat. I personally feel that it's the weekend guys with lots of experience that are most likely to get careless. Pros get safety drilled into them (at least we do at work, roads department). Newbies should have enough sense to be scared of the saw and have a pretty healthy respect for them. The guy with enough experience to be really comfortable with a saw gets complacent........

Spent tuesday in the bush with another friend cleaning up weather downed wood (beech, ash, maple mostly). hadn't run a saw in a while, quit after about 3 tanks each in my 034 and 064. Got to the point I knew I was too tired..... Had to walk in, too wet for the tractors. If I had kept cutting, I might be in the hospital too. Got to know when you should be done and not play the tough guy!

 

[HolmenTree]

Fellas I almost got banned yesterday from my posts on the "Stihl Rollomatic ES wide vs narrow" thread. Read it thru and see my points. Now what if PWB's friend was running a 660 with 20" oversized 13 tooth sprocket nose bar like RacerBoy was planning on using to cut his 15 cords? His leg would probably be cut right off.
Most people on this site want to mod to increase hp, have some fun, not thinking of the consequences. But it is not only PPE you need ,you got to know what kind of bar to run, how to sharpen your chain, there is no 2nd quessing here. Read the Stihl wide vs narrow thread from yesterday!! I made the last post 11:14 am this morning.

 

[ropensaddle]

Point taken, Phil. I don't disagree in the slightest. But if certain folks like Rope or Habenero are sawing as an avocation rather than a vocation they can decide for themselves whether or not they want to take advantage of the available safety equipment. The most important piece of safety equipment is your brain. IMHO - those who choose not to wear chaps are making a bad decision.

It's strange to read some folks at AS actually put their saws away for the winter. I much prefer to cut in temps below 30F. I put my saw away in summer because it's so damn hot. Not everyone is fortunate enough to live up north like us. I'm sure the guys down south have it a lot worse and Rope is right to be concerned with heat stroke. There's no doubt about it chaps are hot and uncomfortable. If I were in his situation I guess I'd try to find the coolest lightest pants with saw protection I could find. Trading comfort for safety is no bargain.

My point is; I have been cutting ,climbing professionally for 25 years never cut my self with a saw and have only used chaps a half a dozen times.
I am not unsafe just because I do not use them and I in no way wish anyone to stop using them.
I am owner of my business and have used saws more in one week than many do their entire life.
Many accidents are caused by clumsyness some carelessness and ppe is great, I wear a hard hat most times, safety glasses all the time I however am personally lax in hearing and chaps.
I will possibly pay for it some day but odds are in my favor that I will not cut my leg. I learned to run a saw before they were preached and learned the proper carrying,starting,care and don't feel intimidated by firing up the 395 and heading to the bush.

 

[Paul001]

Haven't heard back from him yet, going to call him tonight to see how he's getting along. Still waiting to see the pictures. I know personally how easy it happens, my chainsaw pants have been cut twice in the left thigh, just enough to tear the fabric, not to get into the kevlar. Both times caused by getting careless when I had been cutting too long, tired. Mistakes happen! No chainsaw pants and I might be in the same boat. I personally feel that it's the weekend guys with lots of experience that are most likely to get careless. Pros get safety drilled into them (at least we do at work, roads department). Newbies should have enough sense to be scared of the saw and have a pretty healthy respect for them. The guy with enough experience to be really comfortable with a saw gets complacent........

Spent tuesday in the bush with another friend cleaning up weather downed wood (beech, ash, maple mostly). hadn't run a saw in a while, quit after about 3 tanks each in my 034 and 064. Got to the point I knew I was too tired..... Had to walk in, too wet for the tractors. If I had kept cutting, I might be in the hospital too. Got to know when you should be done and not play the tough guy!

I've brought this point up several times. Those who do this professionally and are members of TCIA or ISA have already seen the statics...number one factor in most injuries involving tree work of any kind, fatigue.

Those making their living at it, keep pushing because it means more money or to keep the boss off their ass...but they and the non-professionals have to know when to take 5, and more importantly when to call it a day.

 

[BuddhaKat]

You know Rope, my Dad taught me how to drive his pickup truck around our property when I was 10 years old. I drove for any reason I could think of back then. In the 40 years since, I've driven a lot of miles. I can honestly say, I'm probably the last guy in the state that gave in to wearing a seatbelt. I hated the friggin things. Now, I don't give it a second thought. I've been in two accidents in my life. One while I was making a left turn and the guy came around from behind me, passed on the wrong side of the road, and clipped my front bumper. The second was when I was at a stop light. It changed and the guy in front of me started to go. Then he stalled and I had to slam on my brakes. The guy behind me ran into my back bumper. Pretty much totaled the front of his little truck. Hardly put a scratch on my rear bumper. Gotta love those old Barden bumpers.

My point is, neither one of those accidents were my fault. You just don't know where or when or how it could happen, but it happens. I'm better off with the sealtbelt. I think you've got your odds wrong. They may be long in your favor, but it's a statistical certainty it will happen someday. I hope not for you though.

 

[ropensaddle]

You know Rope, my Dad taught me how to drive his pickup truck around our property when I was 10 years old. I drove for any reason I could think of back then. In the 40 years since, I've driven a lot of miles. I can honestly say, I'm probably the last guy in the state that gave in to wearing a seatbelt. I hated the friggin things. Now, I don't give it a second thought. I've been in two accidents in my life. One while I was making a left turn and the guy came around from behind me, passed on the wrong side of the road, and clipped my front bumper. The second was when I was at a stop light. It changed and the guy in front of me started to go. Then he stalled and I had to slam on my brakes. The guy behind me ran into my back bumper. Pretty much totaled the front of his little truck. Hardly put a scratch on my rear bumper. Gotta love those old Barden bumpers.

My point is, neither one of those accidents were my fault. You just don't know where or when or how it could happen, but it happens. I'm better off with the sealtbelt. I think you've got your odds wrong. They may be long in your favor, but it's a statistical certainty it will happen someday. I hope not for you though.

Thanks for your vote of confidence lol I am very careful and my bar is an extension of my hand I have seen many others that would cut them selves on day one I am not one and a seatbelt does not make me 150 degrees. I do put them on on steep hillsides and thickets
anyplace I feel uncomfortable cutting.

 

[HolmenTree]

Thanks for your vote of confidence lol I am very careful and my bar is an extension of my hand I have seen many others that would cut them selves on day one I am not one and a seatbelt does not make me 150 degrees. I do put them on on steep hillsides and thickets
anyplace I feel uncomfortable cutting.

ropensaddle this is probably the first time I have dis-agreed with you, but I own my own tree service and what I do with my saw I set examples for my workers. Before they worked with me they didn't know a rats azz about a saw, I still have my main groundie for 5 yrs now, and he has never had an accident. I always wear chaps, safety glasses, steel toe boots, high visability t shirts, helmets. And my workers use the same.

 

[ropensaddle]

ropensaddle this is probably the first time I have dis-agreed with you, but I own my own tree service and what I do with my saw I set examples for my workers. Before they worked with me they didn't know a rats azz about a saw, I still have my main groundie for 5 yrs now, and he has never had an accident. I always wear chaps, safety glasses, steel toe boots, high visability t shirts, helmets. And my workers use the same.

You are right to disagree with me but remember I don't have employees. My wife is sure not going to run a saw and subs have their own saws and ppe and gear. I will wear them on days cold but 90 to 100 plus you can forget it. I know it is a taboo subject but I am no liar so I told the truth. It would be easier to say I wear them always to bed,in the woods etc. but truth is truth.



Hey maybe I need to move to Canada lol I would love putting them on in 1 degree weather lol!

 

[willsaw4beer]

The only safety gear I wear are ear muffs, safety glasses, and steel toes. I've been runnin a saw and splitting wood since I was a kid and I have never had any kind of injury whatsoever. Honestly I really do need to invest in some chaps and a helmet/faceshield (should have swiped one from my last job!) but regardless I make sure to be aware of what I am doing at all times. My mentality is a trip to the hospital is going to cost me in terms of lost productivity as well as being at the mercy of the evil :censored: who live to be able to overcharge you as much as humanly possible for whatever they possibly can. I've had plenty of jobs that a lapse of concentration could have been lethal, that and riding a motorcycle with all the retarded SUV drivers that can't seem to see anything smaller than a school bus have only reinforced the notion of paying attention to what you are doing and putting yourself in a position to be able to deal with things going wrong.

 

[flatpikr]

89% of thigh cuts are from resting the saw on your leg which I never do.

I'm in the other 11%. Don't rest the saw on my leg. I've got strong hikers legs and when I jump out of the way, I can really move. Once I really moved right into the bottom of the bar. Again, the chain just nicked me as it came to a complete stop.

 

[056kid]

i have had many day dreams of horrific accidents with saws and trees. the things that could have happend earlier today with thoes two problem trees or the kickback an hour ago that could have been gory if i hadent had a firm grip on the saw and what was goin on.

these notions help me stay on my toes and so far so good.

but i loath chaps in the summer or in brush. I dont wear them..

 

[ropensaddle]

I'm in the other 11%. Don't rest the saw on my leg. I've got strong hikers legs and when I jump out of the way, I can really move. Once I really moved right into the bottom of the bar. Again, the chain just nicked me as it came to a complete stop.

Prolly move much faster than I lol my movements are methodical especially lately working daylight to dark for two weeks puts you into robotic state :hmm3grin2orange:
Ice storms and husky's lol!!!!!!!

 

[willsaw4beer]

but i loath chaps in the summer or in brush. I dont wear them..

Yeah I always figured in brush or limbing they would catch on stuff and be more liability than safety anyways.

 

[ropensaddle]

Yeah I always figured in brush or limbing they would catch on stuff and be more liability than safety anyways.

In reality thats where they shine the kickback posibilities really increase in thick brush

 

[willsaw4beer]

In reality thats where they shine the kickback posibilities really increase in thick brush

:monkey: Shows how much I know, lol. In any case relying on the safety equipment as the main thing keeping you safe in unsafe imo.

 

[ropensaddle]

:monkey: Shows how much I know, lol. In any case relying on the safety equipment as the main thing keeping you safe in unsafe imo.

I strongly recomend following the safety guidelines but can't say I always follow all of them.
It is a good idea to and I will not put anyone down that does.

 

[056kid]

When in brush i get planted good and saw as normal lots of disagrement with the wood and the tip.


honestly im more worried about getting smashed!

 

[ropensaddle]

When in brush i get planted good and saw as normal lots of disagrement with the wood and the tip.


honestly im more worried about getting smashed!

LOL I thouroughly understand that smashing not good ever see the guy try to catch the tree vid he tried to catch a log and was :censored: up

 

[056kid]

LOL I thouroughly understand that smashing not good ever see the guy try to catch the tree vid he tried to catch a log and was :censored: up

Where can i see it! is it on the tube?