CHAINSAW SAFETY OEH 5410 PSA Chainsaw Safety Chainsaw

CHAINSAW SAFETY OEH: 5410 PSA

Chainsaw Safety

Chainsaw Facts • Each year over 3 million new chainsaws are sold in the United States. • Each year 28, 500 people are injured by chainsaws. • The most common hazards associated with chainsaws are injuries caused by kickback, pushback, and pull-in. J Forensic Sci. 2004 Mar; 49(2): 345 -50

Types of Chainsaw Injuries • Bar nose kickback is one of the more common causes of serious chain saw injury accidents.

Types of Chainsaw Injuries • Kickback may occur when the moving chain at the nose or tip of the guide bar touches an object, or when the wood closes in and pinches the saw chain in the cut. Tip or bar nose contact can, in some cases, cause a lightning-fast reverse reaction. http: //www. oregonproducts. com/pro/service/kickback. htm

Types of Chainsaw Injuries Pull-in

Types of Chainsaw Injuries • Pull-in results when the operator is pulling the chainsaw through the material. Once the chainsaw is through the material the force exerted by the operator pulls the chainsaw toward the operator which can cause serious injury. http: //www. oregonproducts. com/pro/service/kickback. htm

Chainsaw Injury Statistics • According to the U. S. Consumer Products Safety Commission there were over 28, 500 chain saw injuries in 1999. More than 36% were injuries to the legs and knees. • The average chainsaw injury requires 110 stitches and the average medical cost was $ 5, 600. 00 in 1989. • Medical costs for chainsaw injuries based on these facts amount to about 350 million dollars per year. • There are 69, 000 professional loggers in the U. S. . The cost of equipping all of them with one pair of chainsaw chaps at approximately $75. 00 each would result in a total annual expense of five million dollars. • There are few situations where safety has a more immediate payback than in the logging industry. Data from U. S. Consumer Products Safety Commission

Chain Saw Injury Locations

Tree-cutting Injuries Bureau of Labor Statistics Analysis of 1, 086 Accidents Struck by tree or limb Fall Chain saw injury Muscle strain Hit by cable, hook Other Bureau of Labor Statistics (1984). Work injury report (WIR) injuries in the logging industry. Bulletin 2203 (Ex. 2 -1).

Preventing Chainsaw Injuries Prior to operating the Chainsaw: • Become familiar with the operators manual. • Become familiar with the controls of the chainsaw. • Develop an awareness of the hazards of operating a chainsaw. • Obtain properly fitted personal protective equipment.

Typical Chainsaw Controls

Properly Starting a Chainsaw When starting a chainsaw: • Place the chainsaw on the ground. • Place your foot in the rear hand guard. • Position one hand on the forward hand guard. • Pull the starting rope in a quick upward motion.

Properly Starting a Chainsaw autonopedia. org

Properly Sawing a Log

Chainsaw PPE Protective Chaps Elvex Safety Products

Chainsaw PPE Helmet with Face Protection and Hearing Protection Elvex Safety Products

Chainsaw PPE Protective Gloves Elvex Safety Products

Chainsaw PPE Protective Boots with Studs Elvex Safety Products

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