Hi gents,
I’m curious as to how many of you wear full PPE when cutting? Have you ever cut yourself with or without PPE?
I was in hospital a little while ago being treated for a non saw related injury and a chap was wheeled in on a bed having cut all up his lower leg, pruning his trees up a ladder (not wearing chaps). He was in high spirits surprisingly and was smiling and joking with the paramedics.
I have always made it a priority to wear PPE, but will be the first person to admit, If I’m just starting a saw rather than cutting, I don’t.
Every time! This includes head, eye and ear pro and chainsaw pants. Depending on time of year certain boots are worn. Haven't seen insulated chainsaw protective boots yet. If saw is entering wood, it's all on no questions about it. Gloves are on when dealing with chain.
I'm a stickler for this topic as I teach dozens of folks every year. I practice what I preach every single time and very deliberate.
I have cutting/logging gatherings throughout the year at my places. I'm blown away when people give a crap about their hearing but not their heads, eyes and especially their legs or vice versa in some other configuration. And it truly is not giving a crap bc if they did care, they would take the ten seconds it takes to put any of the gear on. Instead it's the same old attitude its not gonna happen to me this time.
So, what I tell people when they're on my property is that I have extra gear to wear if you want. A lot of my friends are in local, state, fed gov as well and are wildland firefighters or some other professional entity. At work, they wear it. At home sometimes they do or don't which bugs the hell out of me. I tell them straight up, you choose not to wear it while on my property, I WILL NOT help you if you injure yourself and had the opportunity to wear something that might've prevented it. Think they wear it after that talk?! Bet your ass they do!
I will also mention that PPE is considered the last line of defense/protection. There are many different controls (i.e. administrative, environmental etc) that should assist in the preparation of each task with proper assessment. Complacency and having the attitude you don't have to/need to wear PPE bc you've given it enough thought is absolutely ridiculous and it'll be only a matter of time til something happens. If it never does, means you got lucky. Take the extra seconds or minutes to put the stuff on. What's the rush?! I've still never heard a legitmate excuse. I don't have any sympathy for people who injure themselves on this topic and claim to "know better" and continually make poor decisions.