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| | Chainsaw Safety Properly used, a chainsaw can be an efficient, fast and easy way to make light work of some heavy-duty tasks. Ideal for cutting large trunks, farm maintenance or even cutting up firewood for home use, they can also be great fun to use.
However, in the hands of a careless, inexperienced or tired operator, the chain saw can be very hazardous. In 1991 the Safety Commission estimated that more than 44,000 people required hospital treatment for chain saw-related injuries. Most accidents were caused when the operator came in contact with a moving chain. Injuries from a chain saw are usually serious because of the jagged cut the chain leaves.
Buying The Right Product
For a start, you are in safe hands when purchasing a chainsaw from Masons Of Chudleigh. Many of our chainsaws exhibit the following safety features, or can have them retro-fitted. For more detailed information on the safety features of a specific model of STIHL chainsaw, please do get in contact and we'll be more than happy to give you more information.
Chain Brake (gasoline only) - designed to stop a moving chain in a fraction of a second if kickback occurs, reducing the chances of severe injury. May also function as a front hand guard.
Front Hand Guard - a bar in front of the top handle designed to stop a slipping hand from coming into contact with the chain
Stop Switch - should be located so that it can be activated easily by your right thumb without losing your grip on the rear handle of the saw
Rear Hand Guard - the lower part of the handle on the chain saw is designed to protect the hand from a broken or jumping chain
Chain Catcher - found on the bottom of the saw engine as far forward as possible. It is designed to catch a broken or jumping chain
Vibration Damping - rubber bushings between the handle and the saw body or on the engine mountings help reduce the operator's exposure to vibration
Muffler - designed to increase the noise level and direct hot exhaust gases away from the operator. This may be combined with the spark arrester.
Spark Arrester - keeps sparks from being ejected by the exhaust. The sparks occur when carbon deposits in the cylinder break loose and are ignited by the exhaust gases. Spark arresters are required in many areas.
Safety Practice
There are a number of ways you can make your chainsaw, yourself and the environment around you a safe place.
Safety Clothing - this is the easiest thing you can do to protect yourself from injury, and one of the most important. Specially designed trousers, boots, gloves, jackets and visors can be bought from most DIY or gardening stores. The material is made of hundreds of layers of meshed fabric, designed to slow down the chainsaw blade when it makes contact, thereby increasing the chance that you will be able to remove the blade or move yourself out of the way before damage is done. The visor not only protects your face from potential injury, but also shields your eyes from flying pieces of wood chippings. Not only do you want to avoid damage to your eyes, but you also want to ensure that at no time during use of a chainsaw is your eyesight compromised. Earmuffs should also be worn to protect your hearing from the 90+ decibel noise level of modern saws.
Common Sense - and it doesn't even cost any money. Before using a chainsaw ensure you are of capable physical and mental capacity, that you have not taken alcohol, that you are in a secure working environment and that everyone around you has been briefed with security in mind. You can be the most security aware worker in the world and it won't matter a jot if someone around you doesn't know how to act or behave safely.
Read The Manual - one of the best ways to ensure you use a chainsaw safely is by knowing how it works inside out. There are procedures on safely starting the engine, safely cutting through material, and many more. Force yourself to read it cover to cover at least once before you actually start-up your machine. Do this even if you are an experienced operator, chainsaw models can differ in engine design - for example some models will simply not start if given too much choke, whereas some need it.
Maintenance - a saw in good condition will be easier to operate, and the easier it is for it to operate the less room there is for mistakes due to excess effort. Using a badly maintained chainsaw can lead to rabid, over-powering and jerky movements during use, which can easily turn into mistakes and disasters.
Functioning Safeties - if your chainsaw has safety equipment such as a 'quick stop' for use in emergencies, make sure they are working properly! Test them regularly to ensure that come the time you might have to use them, they are not going to fail you.
Planning - before starting the motor, know what you are going to do next. Do not start the motor and wander around revving the engine while you decide on your next course of action. The best way to stay safe is efficiency and economy of movement. Do what you need to do with the saw, then turn it off and store it safely. The less time you are using it, the less time there is in which to make a mistake.
The Law - it is worth noting, if you are going to be using the chainsaw for your work, that the law requires operators to have undergone adequate training, be wearing safety clothing and take due measures to ensure those around them are not at risk.
Common sense, a little reading and research and some small amount of investment can lead to a safe working environment in which you can enjoy testing out your new chainsaw. Given the kind of damage a chain-saw can do, due to the jagged cuts it makes, it's definitely worth a little effort invested into safety.
If you have any concerns about the use of your chainsaw, or want ore information on safety before you order, please get in contact as we would be more than happy to discuss this with you and impart our advice and product knowledge. |
| Wood Chipper/ Shredder Safety Read the Manual - the most obvious, the most boring and the most often avoided, this is the best way to ensure you know everything about your machine and do not miss any important factors. It will help you keep the machine in good working order, reducing the risk of mistakes or mishaps and it will also contain safety advice and specific information on the machine's installed or attachable safety devices.
Double Check - most chipper and shredders have safety devices installed, such as guards and quick shutoff buttons. These will do no good if they are not functioning correctly and the last time you want to discover that is when you really need it. Before operating the machinery each time just turn it on and give the emergency stop a quick check. Read the manual for specific instructions on this, as some quickstop buttons might cause problems if used too often - they may give guidance on how often to check the safeties for each model.
Wear Gloves - when feeding debris and tree limbs into the shredder, it can exert quite a force and really pull the item from your hands. Gloves will help prevent splinters as it's pulled from your grasp.
Wear Goggles - there's going to be a lot of flying wood chips and dust in the air, which can cause quite some damage if it gets into your eyes. Not only do you want to avoid the damage, you also want to avoid any kind of visual impairment when using a machine such as this.
Wear Earmuffs - depending on what model you are using, whether it is gas or electric powered you may need ear protection.
Check Material - make sure you are not putting anything into the shredder such as rocks, stones or plastic. Not only would these cause damage to the shredder blades but it's likely they will be propelled back out of the shredder at a fairly fast speed, capable of doing quite some damage.
Clear The Area - ensure spectators or fellow workers are at a safe distance and aware of how to behave around the machine. Having an informal but comprehensive safety briefing session before you start using the device can be a good idea.
Checking Wiring - When using an electrically powered appliance outdoors, power should come from an outlet equipped with a ground fault interrupter (GFI). The GFI is designed to immediately stop the electrical current when it senses a short in the system, such as the operator receiving a shock. Make sure all extension cords are the three-prong grounded type that maintains an extra ground in the event of appliance wiring failure.
Check Fuel - check the fuel levels before you start the shredder or chipper, because you should never refill a hot or running shredder and the temptation to do so when you realise you've started it with hardly any fuel left is best avoided. Refill before every time you use it and you won't come up against that problem.
Take Care - even when the machine is inactive, the blades and shredding bits inside are still sharp and harmful. Never put your hand down the shredding chute. If there is something wrong with the machine, don’t be tempted to go poking around in the workings (unless the manual specifies a course of action to check for faults). Call out a professional who can fix the problem safely and without causing damage to themselves of the machine.
Tips & Hints
Tarpaulin - to make cleaning up the substantial spread of chippings and wood dust that will be left after using your shredder, lay an old tarpaulin or sheet down on the ground beneath it. That way, once you're moved the shredder back to storage, you can simply fold the tarpaulin up and tip the contents into the bin. Saves hours of sweeping the mess up with a broom.
Go Slow - remember that the larger the branch you feed into the machine the long it will take to shred. Don't push too hard or you risk clogging the blades and harming the machine. It will pull items from your grasp at its own speed anyway, so just let it shred everything at its own pace.
Choose The Right Area - choose a flat area on which to set up your shredder. Many will not work on a slope, and even if yours does you won't be able to manhandle it into position on a slope. The likelihood of it falling over is high and that can cause injury and damage to the machine. |
| Cultivator Safety Read the Manual - the most obvious, the most boring and the most often avoided, this is the best way to ensure you know everything about your machine and do not miss any important factors. It will help you keep the machine in good working order, reducing the risk of mistakes or mishaps and it will also contain safety advice and specific information on the machine's installed or attachable safety devices.
Clear The Area - make sure the area you are going to cultivate is clear, ensure that everyone in the area knows how to behave and not to run in front of the machine when you are working. The blades of the cultivator are exposed and very sharp, and cause significant damage to a bare foot or hand.
Protective Clothing - ensure you are wearing adequate footwear, preferably steel-capped boots and tough trousers covering your ankles and lower legs. Non-slip gloves and a visor or goggles and ear guards are also a good idea.
Reduce Speed - don't go as fast as you think you need to, it's wise to keep the speed lower when going over rough ground or clumped dirt, and slower speeds will enable you to keep better control of the machine.
Petrol - ensure you've filled the strimmer with petrol before you use it each time, avoiding the machine spluttering and failing on you, at which point you'd have to wait for it to cool down before adding more gasoline. You must not refuel a hot or active tank. |
| Mower Safety Safety
They might be smaller than a car, but as with any piece of machinery it pays to put a little effort towards safety. Ensure that those around you realise you are going to be starting the machine, and that they are aware of how to behave when you are using it.
Make sure the lawn is clean of toys and items that might clog up the engine and blades - this can both cause the machine to stop abruptly and damage the workings. Read the manual and the safety advice provided by the manufacturer thoroughly before using the machine and ensure you are starting it correctly. Keep it well maintained and oiled - a machine in good condition is a safe machine.
Security
Believe it or not, security and safety for your lawnmower itself is as important as for the person that's using it. You can be the most conscientious operator in your street, but you'll be no better off when you wake up the morning after buying your brand new expensive lawnmower to find that it's been stolen from the flimsy shed in which you stored it.
There have recently been reports of increased robberies focusing on more expensive pieces of garden equipment such as the ride-on mowers, so some small effort dedicated to security is definitely a good idea.
Insurance - get in contact with your insurance company before you buy your mower and get them to detail the home-owner insurance clause you should have. Some insurance companies will refuse to pay out if the item was being stored outside of the home - a shed or garage can sometimes count as outside the home. Get this point clear with your insurers and get them to adjust the policy accordingly or rearrange your storage plans.
Storage - now you know you're insured, you need to make sure you take all reasonable measures to secure your mower. A sturdy shed with strong padlocks can do the job but could be broken into by a determined robber, a garage with a strong door is even better and virtually impenetrable. Even in daylight, ensure that you lock your mower away when it is going to be out of sight for any length of time. Even during the day criminals will be brash enough to steal your property, especially if it's sitting alone on a lawn, ready to drive away. |
| Log-Splitter Safety Read The Manual - especially for a machine this complex you need to ensure you are familiar with every working aspect, and ensure that everyone working with the machine has also read the manual.
Safety Clothing - safety glasses must always be worn when operating your log-splitter to avoid your eyes being damaged by flying pieces of debris and wood chips. Ear guards should also be worn, as the noise can be quite loud and potentially damaging. A head guard should also be worn, and gloves with non-slip palms. Dress sensibly and do not wear any loose items of clothing that might get caught in the equipment.
Cut Logs Square - ensure that each log is cut square at the end to prevent them sliding out of the splitter during operation.
Keep Loaders Clear - if someone else is loading the logs for you, make sure they are clear of the area before you activate the splitter every time they feed a log into the machine.
Keep Fingers Clear - keep fingers well clear from any cracks or splits that may appear in the log during feeding into the machine.
Block Wheels - when the machine is in operation ensure that all wheels are securely blocked to make sure the splitter does not shift or roll at all. You should also have it set-up on stable, firm, flat ground.
Refuel Before Use - you cannot add fuel to a running or hot engine, you need to allow it to cool completely before refueling. So each time you are preparing to use the machine, check the fuel level and refill if necessary.
Towing Safely - if you are purchasing a splitter of a size that would be towed behind your vehicle, you need to be careful to watch the speed at which you tow. Most splitters do not have suspension, so you need to keep towing below 45mph (at most) to avoid damaging them on farmland roads and potholes. Also be careful when taking corners, as you can be sure the splitter will not be able to take them as sharp as your vehicle.
Upon Arrival - if you are towing the splitter to a destination where there will be other cars, you should detach the splitter and maneuver it by hand into position, as most splitters will sit below rearview mirror vision so there is a high possibility of other drivers not seeing it in close quarters and running into it, bending the equipment. |
| Strimmer Safety Read the Manual - the most obvious, the most boring and the most often avoided, this is the best way to ensure you know everything about your machine and do not miss any important factors. It will help you keep the machine in good working order, reducing the risk of mistakes or mishaps and it will also contain safety advice and specific information on the machine's installed or attachable safety devices.
Double Check - strimmers will have an obvious shutoff button, and sometimes an emergency stop button. Ensure you are familiar with each of these and make sure they are functioning correctly. The manual will give instructions on how often to check these functions.
Protective Clothing - wear goggles to protect your eyes from flying debris and cut grass. Not only will it reduce the risk of eye-damage but it will mean you won't be squinting as you use the device, meaning your vision will be better. Ear guards will be required to protect from the considerable sound produced. Gloves for good grip and some form of ankle covering. Steel capped boots are a good idea, and some kind of protective legwear would not go amiss and would protect against accidental injury.
Communication - ensure that everyone around you realises how to behave when you are using the strimmer and that they are aware you will not be able to hear them. Agree on a hand-signal for stop beforehand, so that they can ask you to shut the machine off without stepping too close.
Cord - ensure you have enough cord to comfortably guide the strimmer around the garden edge, but do not allow it to trail or loop. You do not want to accidentally strim over the cord, creating potential for electrocution hazards.
Petrol - ensure you've filled the strimmer with petrol before you use it each time, avoiding the machine spluttering and failing on you, at which point you'd have to wait for it to cool down before adding more gasoline. You must not refuel a hot or active tank.
Stance - do not use the strimmer above ground level, and do not overreach. Maintain your balance and footing at all times and the risk of accident will be greatly reduced.
Hints & Tips
Clear The Area - all it requires before you start is a quick walk over the area you will be strimming, to remove any pieces of rock of plastic items that would damage the blades and get kicked back at you when strimming.
Adjust The Harness - do this before you turn the strimmer on, getting it into the right position for your working stance. If you do not do this, you will become uncomfortable very fast when using the strimmer and would create unnecessary reasons to be turning it off and on to readjust.
Spark Plug - disconnect this when the equipment is left unattended. Check the manual for more instructions relating to this.
Transport Securely - ensure that when you're transporting the strimmer you've secured in a sensible position in your car or truck, to avoid the possibility of petrol leakage. |
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