Overview

This article discusses issues agencies should consider and key practices to implement when employees are required to operate chainsaws. Applicable Occupational Safety and Health Administration/Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA/VOSH) standards and best practices for safe operation are discussed. This article also discusses inspections, training, and the selection of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Not Just a Movie Prop

While many have seen chainsaws as key props in the most famous horror movies, a real-life horror may occur if safety is not the first consideration when using these powerful tools. Potential dangers exist from the time the chainsaw is picked up until it is put back into storage. According to Carl Smith, a fifth generation expert logger and chainsaw instructor, “A chainsaw is the most dangerous hand tool that can be purchased on the open market. It requires no license and no training to own or operate. Approximately 40,000 injuries and deaths were reported last year in the United States…and most could have been prevented.”¹

Potential Injury Types

Potential injuries that may occur from using chainsaws include vibration white finger (numbness, tingling, pain and swelling in the fingers, hands, and arms from vibration), tinnitus (industrial deafness), lacerations, and crushing injuries. Hazards to consider include slips, trips, and falls; insect and animal bites; poisonous plants; and material handling hazards that may lead to strain and sprain injuries. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) also identified the left arm and hand and the lower left leg and as areas most often injured in chainsaw accidents in a 1994 study, further emphasizing the importance of fully preparing employees before operating a chainsaw.

Because chainsaws are used in various industries and are widely used by individuals at home, there are several things to consider before the work begins.

First Things First

Operating a chainsaw involves more than just pulling the starter cord or plugging it in and cutting. Before the cut begins, the chainsaw operator should conduct an assessment of the hazards associated with the job and the cutting area. Operators should also understand how the equipment works, the basic principles of chainsaw use (including chainsaw maintenance and crosscutting), the hazards associated with operation, and any other skills necessary for the required task.

OSHA/VOSH’s specific direction concerning training requirements state that the training must be free to the employee and must be provided before the employee is assigned to the task. Additionally, if employees have new tools or equipment to work with, they must be trained prior to being allowed to operate them. Training should be designed to address the employee’s specific work environment and may begin with a review of the owners’ manual and include terminology, necessary precautions, and hands-on demonstrations.

Training for chainsaw operators must minimally include:

• Instruction on how to safely perform the assigned work tasks;


• How to safely use, operate, and maintain the chainsaw (including manufacturer’s safety information);


• How to recognize and control safety and health hazards associated with the assigned work task;


• How to recognize, prevent, and control logging industry hazards;


• The employer’s site-specific requirements, procedures, and safe work practices; and


• Applicable OSHA/VOSH requirements.

• Kickback: when a chain tooth at the upper quadrant of the guide bar tip cuts into wood without cutting through it.


• Horsepower: a unit of power indicating the strength of the chainsaw motor.


• Guide Bar: the long metal piece the chain rotates around.

All employees, including supervisors, must also be trained in first-aid and CPR and maintain current certificates identifying the employee’s name, training dates, and the trainer or employer’s signature.

OSHA/VOSH Regulations

The following OSHA/VOSH regulations apply to employees using chainsaws.

• 1910.95, Occupational noise exposure (identifies what employers must do to protect employees exposed to high noise environments.


• 1910.106, Flammable and combustible liquids (protection for employees working with flammable and combustible materials such as fuel).


• 1910.133, Eye and face protection (identifies appropriate eye and face protection for flying debris).


• 1910.135, Head protection (provides direction for protecting employees from overhead/impact hazards).


• 1910.136, Occupational foot protection (identifies appropriate footwear requirements).


• 1910.138, Hand protection (considerations for protecting employees’ hands).


• 1910.266, Logging operations (identifies safety practices for all aspects of logging operations).

Employees working with chainsaws should be appropriately dressed and receive appropriate training about the care, use, cleaning requirements, and limitations of PPE.

The following should be used when operating a chainsaw:

• Safety goggles;


• face shields; gloves;


• work boots;


• hard hats;


• ear muffs and/or ear plugs; and


• chaps, leggings, or cut resistant pants.
  
  All protective clothing should be sized appropriately; not too tight or too loose.

There are also key or best practices that are not tied to a particular regulation or standard, but will help employees remain safe while operating a chainsaw.

Make sure you have the right sized chainsaw for the task. Since all chainsaws are designed for right-handed people, proper selection is even more important for left-handed users. Users must also consider horsepower, chain speed, bar length, weight, type of handle bar, type of guide bar, and the type of chain. Chainsaws were designed to cut wood; discourage employees from using chainsaws to cut materials other than wood.

When walking with a chainsaw, make sure the engine is off and the guide bar is toward the operator’s back. When cutting with a chainsaw, the operator should stand to the side and away from the direct line of the cut in case they lose control of the saw.

Make sure the chain is sharpened, has proper tension, and is in good condition.

Tips for Cutting in Cold Weather

Using a chainsaw in cold weather may cause severe damage to the tool if not properly handled.

• “Oil - use a lighter weight of bar-chain oil and be certain the chain is receiving oil from the saw.


• Tension - keep the chain correctly tensioned. Check and adjust often.


• Cutters - keep cutters sharp. Touch up every hour, more often if needed.


• Depth Gauges - the bite of cutters is regulated by the height of the leading portion of each cutter, commonly known as the depth gauge. Check and adjust your cutter’s depth gauges at every sharpening.


• Bar - keep the bar groove clean and oil holes open.


• Drive Sprocket - replace the sprocket after every two chains, or sooner if wear is evident.”²

¹Nix, Steve. (n.d.). Chain Saw Safety-Advice from an Expert. About.com: Forestry. Retrieved October 18, 2007 from, http://forestry.about.com/cs/chainsaws/a/carl_smith_saw1.htm.

²Oregon Cutting Systems Group. (2007). Cutting in Cold Weather. Retrieved October 18, 2007 from, http://www.oregonchain.com/cold.htm.

Resources

About Chainsaws. (2005). Chainsaw Safety: Taking Time to Prepare. Retrieved October 18, 2007 from http://www.aboutchainsaws.com/chainsaw-safety.

Lowe’s. (n.d.). How-to-Library: Chainsaw Safety. Retrieved October 18, 2007 from http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=howTo&p=Safety/ChainsawSafety.html.

Nix, Steve. (n.d.). Chain Saw Safety-Advice from an Expert. About.com: Forestry. Retrieved October 18, 2007 from, http://forestry.about.com/cs/chainsaws/a/carl_smith_saw1.htm.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). Hurricane e-Matrix. Waste/Debris Removal and Reduction-Tree Trimming. Chain Saws: Key Engineering Controls and Work Practices. Retrieved October 29, 2007 from, http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/hurricane/tree-trimming.html#amn.

Oregon Cutting Systems Group. (2004). Maintenance and Safety Manual for Saw Chain, Guide Bar, and Drive Sprockets. Retrieved October 18, 2007 from http://www.oregonchain.com/tech/ms_manual/ms_01.pdf.

Oregon Cutting Systems Group. (2007). General Safety Precautions for Use of Chainsaws. Retrieved October 18, 2007 from http://www.oregonchain.com/precautions.htm.

Oregon Cutting Systems Group. (2007). Retrieved October 18, 2007 from http://www.oregonchain.com/kickback.htm.

Oregon Cutting Systems Group. (2007). Cutting in Cold Weather. Retrieved October 18, 2007 from, http://www.oregonchain.com/cold.htm.

State Compensation Insurance Fund. (2000-2007). Safety Meeting Topics (Bilingual): Chainsaw Safety. Retrieved October 18,2007 from, http://www.scif.com/safety/safetymeeting/Article.asp?ArticleID=15.

Stihl. (n.d.). Chain Saw Common Features. Retrieved October 18, 2007 from, http://www.stihlusa.com/chainsaws/features.html.