Chainsaws are one of the most dangerous tools that can be used in the garden and they can cause horrific injuries. Whilst it’s not mandatory to be officially trained in how to use a chainsaw for use in your own garden, it is highly recommended. Unecessary risk can lead to severed limbs and a lifetime of regrets.
Having been trained appropriately there are a number of checks that should be made each time you plan on using your chainsaw.
Appropriate and regular maintenance is all important to assuring the safe use of a chainsaw. Unlike some other tools, you need to carry out your maintenance checks every time you use a chainsaw. Things you should check include the silencer, side plate, front and rear hand guards, the chain catcher, chain links, drive sprocket, guide bar and anti-vibration mounts. Each should be checked for excessive wear and damage. If you are not sure what to look for have the unit serviced at regular intervals and consider proper training.
You should also check the tension of the chain is correct and sharpened to the correct specifications. Check that the power switch works correctly and that all screws and nuts are secure, the chain brake mechanism is working correctly and that the safety catch is working properly so that you cannot throttle up the chainsaw until the safety catch has been released.
Without carrying out all of these checks, the chainsaw might be difficult to control at best and, at worse, it could cause serious injury.
Protective Clothing
It goes without saying that protective clothing is essential to your own safety. As a minimum you should accquire a helmet, eye protectors, strong boots (preferably steel toe capped) and gloves. There are plenty of online resouces giving additional advice but don’t neglect a visit to your local garden centre. They will usually be able to give you advice on the type of gear favored by those who use chainsaws regularly.
Consider the Job
Before starting up the chainsaw, consider the job in hand and identify potential areas of difficulty. If you plan on undertaking a large job e.g. bring down a whole tree then make sure you get a sufficient number of helpers and any specialist equipment to do the job safely. Don’t risk demolishing yours or your neighbors house or bringing down power lines. This may sound over the top (hopefully it doesn’t) but many thousands of people have caused millions of pounds of damage to property as a result of chainsaw accidents.
Use the Chainsaw Safely
Never operate a chainsaw if you’re physically fatigued or if you’ve been drinking alcohol. Some of the worst chainsaw accidents have come about due to fatigue. You need to be alert at all times and have quick reactions. One of the most common forms of chainsaw injury occurs because of kickbacks. A kickback happens when the teeth on the chain catch on something as they rotate around the tip of the blade. The teeth may have enough force to cause the blade to kick back violently toward you. Allways be watchful for kickback situations and plan accordingly.
You can find further detailed information on chainsaw safety here.
If you have received appropriate training or have considerable experience of using chainsaws then you can get great deals on Stihl Chainsaw, Husqvarna Chainsaw and many other brands at the Discount Chainsaw Store.