Bulletin 2353

Maine Farm Safety Program

by Dawna L. Cyr, farm safety project assistant, and Steven B. Johnson, Ph.D., Extension crops specialist Safety

hoose a chain saw with Dressing for the Job built-in safety features. Look Dress in the proper work clothing for kickback guards that before operating a chain saw. Wear cuffless prevent the chain from pants and trim fitting clothing that allows hittingC another object. Look for noise for easy movement. Safety shoes or boots and vibration reduction features on with non-slip soles and light non-slip new and used . A throttle interlock gloves are a must. Wear a hard hat, eye will prevent accidental throttle advance. Also, a high engine idle latch allows the operator to start the engine while holding the saw firmly on the ground. Choose a chain saw that is Chain Saw Safety lightweight and has a cutting bar no longer than needed. Hand guards should be in place. The exhaust should • Select a • Clear an escape be directed away from the operator on with built-in safety path before gas-powered machines. Before using a features, including a felling a tree. chain saw, read the owner’s manual. chain kickback • Keep the tree Know how to operate the chain saw guard. between you and properly. Periodically read the owner’s • A complete set of the chainsaw manual to keep the information fresh in personal safety gear when trimming your mind. is recommended downed trees. anytime a chainsaw is used. protection and hearing protection. through , remember the chain Protection for the legs, such as saw cuts quickly and will continue its safety chaps, leggings or safety downward path. Stay out of its path. pads will provide maximum If power protection against cutting When moving from one place to lines are in accidents. another, carefully carry the chain saw the way, call with the guide bar cover on. Carry the Before Beginning Work chain saw so the blade is behind you. the local It is important to check the Carry the chain saw with the blade in power area and equipment before front only if you are going down hill. company, working. Work with a buddy if Carry it so the muffler is away from the and they will possible. They can give body. Also bring along chain saw oil, assistance and go for help if adjustment and the owner’s help you. needed. Clear an escape path manual wrapped in a plastic bag. and the area where work will take place. Check the chain saw Felling Trees for loose screws and bolts and tighten Felling trees can be dangerous, so them. Check the chain for the proper safety is important. Look at the work lubrication, tension and sharpness. area. The wind is unpredictable and Examine the guide bar for damage. can cause hazards, so cut trees on a still Make sure the handles are clean and dry. day. Look for widowmakers, spring poles and schoolmarms. Widowmakers A well-maintained chain saw tends are trees with broken or dead limbs or to be a safer saw. A good kit will dead trees hung up in other trees that help to assure continued operation of the may fall on you. Spring poles are chain saw. The tool kit should contain saplings or branches that are bent and tools to repair the chain saw such as held under tension by another tree. If wrenches to fit all nuts and lugs on the the spring pole is cut or the other tree is chain saw, a screwdriver and an extra removed from it, the sapling can snap sparkplug. A round file and guide for up with a tremendous force and touching up the chain and a flat file and seriously injure someone. A schoolmarm depth gauge to file the depth guides is a tree with a prominent fork in the should be included. trunk making it difficult to predict which way it will fall. Look for other Beginning Work trees or buildings that a falling tree Start the chain saw on clear ground may encounter. If power lines are in the and oil the chain. The chain should not way, call the local power company, and move during idling. If it does, adjust the they will help you. chain to stop it. Grip the chain saw properly, and hold the running chain Before felling a tree, identify a path saw with both hands. When cutting where the tree will fall. Stand with feet

2 well braced. Start the under cut notch entire length, make cuts from the top one-quarter of the diameter of the tree (called overbuck) one-third on the side where it will fall. (Three the diameter of the log common notches for directional felling deep, the entire length of are shown opposite: conventional, the trunk. When this is Humboldt and open face.) Back cut the completed, roll it over and opposite side parallel to the bottom make the final cuts. notch an inch or so higher for the hinge. Slow down as the chain saw approaches If the log is supported the notch. Keep wedges nearby. Call a on one end, make the first warning such as “timber” as the tree cut (underbuck) one-third begins to fall. Get out of the way by the diameter, then complete moving off at a 45–degree angle. from topside by overbucking the upper two-thirds to meet the Use extra care when cutting small underbuck. trees. Trees four to five inches in diameter can usually be felled with one When the log is cut. Watch for bounce backs and limbs. supported from both ends, cut one-third the diameter After the tree has been felled, begin from the top (overbuck), trimming off the limbs and cutting the then complete the cut by tree to manageable lengths. Trim the cutting upward from the limbs from the opposite side keeping the underside (underbuck) to tree stem between you and the chain meet the first cut. saw. Never make cuts with the saw between your legs or straddle the limb to Kickbacks be cut. If working on a hill, stand on the Avoid sawing with the tip or nose uphill side. Work towards the top. If the of the guide bar. This greatly increases saw seems pinched, begin a new cut on the chances of chainsaw the opposite side or use a wedge. Make kickback. Kickback can all cuts at top speed on full throttle. occur if the chain suddenly hits a solid object or takes Bucking too large a cut. This can When cutting the trunk of a tree or force the saw backward and bucking, make sure the chain does not upward and may result in a hit the ground. An operator can cut serious accident. many trees and not do the damage to the chain that striking the ground one time The chances of kickback can do. A dry chain is not safe. can be reduced in the following ways. Hold the saw firmly If the trunk is supported along its with both hands. Grip the top handle

3 with the thumb wrapped around it. Use and then start the chain saw. Get into a a saw equipped with a chain-brake or stable position and keep a firm grip on kickback guard. Watch for branches that the chain saw with both hands. Do not can pinch the chain. Do not pinch the bar let the chain saw fall through the cut or while in the log cut. Saw with the lower it may strike your legs or other objects. part of the bar, close to the bumper, not Overhead cutting is extremely tiring on top near the nose. Maintain high saw and dangerous. speed when entering or leaving a cut in the wood. Keep the chain saw chain Using Wedges sharp. Do not reach above shoulder When the chances of binding exist, height to cut, because you reduce your use wedges. However, stop the chain control over the chain saw. The chain is so there is no danger of driving a too close to your face in this position. wedge into the moving chain. Use only wooden, aluminum or plastic wedges. Refueling Do not use steel or iron wedges, as they Turn off the chainsaw to refuel. Do may do considerable damage to the not refuel over-heated saws. Move away chain if struck. Position yourself and from the work area and only refuel with helpers such that they will not be hit by the proper gasoline. Wipe up any spills. a wedge should the chain strike it. Return the caps to the chain saw and gasoline can. Return the gasoline can to On windy days, for leaning trees or a safe place and continue working. where trees must fall in a specific direction, wedges are essential. Two Cutting at Heights wedges are usually used. When the Using a ladder when removing limbs final cut is up to the proper depth for from trees is very hazardous. Do not felling the tree, remove the chain saw. carry a chain saw up and down a ladder Shut the chain saw off and move it back when the engine is running. Use a rope to a safe position. Then tap the wedges to hoist the chain saw up into the tree with a sledge or maul to fell the tree.

Illustrations by Jennifer W. Johnson

This Maine Farm Safety fact sheet is part of an educational fact sheet series produced by University of Maine Cooperative Extension. For more information on farm safety, contact your county Extension office.

For the most current Extension publications, see our online catalog at www.umext.maine.edu A Member of the University of Maine System

Published and distributed in furtherance of Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914, by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, the Land Grant University of the state of Maine and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Cooperative Extension and other agencies of the U.S.D.A. provide equal opportunities in programs and employment. 10/02

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