Chainsaws in the workplace: How do I find out more?

[striderzz]

I am not looking for legal advice. I am just hoping for some direction on how to find out more about the the laws regarding using chainsaws in the workplace, specifically in California.

My situation: Where I work, our property recently survived a forest fire and I expect some tree work in the coming future. We do not own a chainsaw as a business (but I do personally) and I am trying to find out more info about what the requirements are in California in case the business purchases one. We are not loggers/foresters/arborists. We are simply a business based in the mountains and I would like to know more about using chainsaws in the workplace and more specifically, California.

Anyone that can direct me in the right place to research I would appreciate. I am also hoping for some plain English language since I have already researched this on the Cal OSHA website and all I find are legal descriptions that are ambiguous at best. For example I found this:

California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 6283. Portable Chain Saw Operations.

Which says among a lot of those stuff:
"(m) Every employer shall instruct and enforce a safe practice procedure including the rules listed below:
....
(8) Use proper methods to avoid kickbacks."

What does that mean in real life? Do I need to take a class on Chainsaw usage on how to prevent kickback?

We have already hired a consultant for other reasons and they might be able to help us with this, but I am very interested in hearing your real life experiences, to help temper the BS we might get from the consultant. I am NOT talking about dropping trees, mind you. We hire outside arborists to do that. I am talking about occasional use to clear fallen/downed logs and how to find out more about doing it in the workplace legally.

Thanks for any insight you may have to offer.

-n

ps. Not sure if this is the right forum for this, but the Forestry/Logging forum felt too commercial and I thought the Chainsaw forum would be more applicable to the occasional use nature of my question.

 

[wyk]

https://www.osha.gov/ is a start.

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

If it's just some trimming or thinning, wouldn't it be easier in the long run to hire someone that knows what they're doing? Seems to me the liability for your company would be huge.

 

[Philip Wheelock]

If your business doesn't carry workers' compensation insurance, you'll doubtless need it if employees are running chainsaws. Also liability insurance. Your insurance carrier will be able to advise on specifics. The Title 8, Sect. 6283 outlines chainsaw safety specifications and states that the employer shall be responsible for proper instruction and enforcement of safe practice procedures regarding chainsaw use. Basically, someone in the business has to know what they're doing and properly instruct and supervise employees, and all saws must have required safety features. Fire-damaged trees likely present higher risks. In real life terms, this is a situation you walk away from, IMO. Pay someone else to do the work and assume the risk. Alternate: if the fire-damaged trees do not pose a safety risk, just leave them alone and let Nature take its course.

 

[bikesandcars]

Why would you want to go out of your way to beg permission from california to use a chainsaw? Can you just do it?

If you are going to pay your employee's to do work they are not trained in or good at it can be an issue... but it's more of a question for you personally (do you like your employee's and do you trust them) or your insurance company right?

What is your general type of business?


I'd say if you are a nervous government-obiding californian business owner you should just hire a professional to cut down trees for you (no offense meant). That's what the government wants (people to hire specialists for everything).

What do your employee's think? Are they willing to do that work?

They say the Government is shutting down today... I think that's a great idea for a while