thumb|upright|A man cutting while wearing helmet, goggles, ear defenders, gloves, chaps, and boots. Note he is wearing a face shield, but it is currently up and not providing any protection.

Safety practices generally recommend that chainsaw users wear protective clothing, also known as personal protective equipment, while operating chainsaws. There is general agreement worldwide on what clothing is suitable, but local jurisdictions have specific rules and recommendations.

Clothing

thumb|A helmet which integrates visor and ear defenders into one unit, a very popular arrangement with chainsaw users

Helmet

The helmet offers some protection for the user's head against impact by the cutter bar of the chainsaw, should a 'kickback' occur. Kickback is when the running chainsaw jumps up unexpectedly out of the cut, thus endangering the saw operator.

Helmet protection can only be successful if the chain brake has been operated to stop the saw chain, since a chain running at full speed can easily cut into the helmet. The helmet, and its eye protection guard, also protect against impacts from small falling or flying objects, such as dead twigs and branches from a tree being felled.

Exposure to the sun causes the plastic of the helmet to weaken over time, so it is recommended that a helmet be replaced every 3–5 years. A helmet normally has a symbol inside that indicates when it was made. Many helmets also now have a sticker on the outside that fades with exposure to light. When the sticker has faded, the helmet should be replaced.

Another way of determining if a helmet needs to be changed is to press the two sides of the helmet towards each other. If a cracking noise is heard, the helmet must be replaced.

In the EU, a helmet must meet the requirements of EN397.</sup>

Visor or goggles

A visor or goggles reduce the chance of chips penetrating the user's eyes.

The relatively flimsy mesh visor, with imperfect coverage of the face, is considered acceptable, because the chips produced by well-maintained chainsaws are of relatively uniform size and speed. Unlike other woodworking tools, a chainsaw with a sharp chain produces little or no sawdust, only chips (which are too large to fit through the visor's mesh).

Some chainsaw users prefer conventional safety glasses or goggles.

In the EU, ear defenders must comply with EN352-1. Professional chainsaw operators would choose trousers for comfort and ease of movement, with fallers, ground workers and firewood cutters opting for class A trousers, because of the low risk of being cut in the back of the leg. Climbers and tree surgeons would have to wear type C, as they will be cutting from a wider variety of positions. Type C trousers are, of course, highly insulating, and may lead to heat stress if worn for labour-intensive operations such as firewood cutting.

Chainsaw protective fabric works on a number of principles. The outermost layer can be made both tough and slippery, to protect against minor damage which could compromise the filler material. Beneath these, long, loose fibres of polyester, Avertic, ballistic nylon, or Kevlar is laid in layers. When a saw contacts the trousers, the outer layer is immediately cut through, but the inner is drawn out and wraps around the saw's drive sprocket, locking it solid and halting the chain, limiting damage to the operator's leg. The length of the fabrics and number of layers match the safety class. In case of an accident, the fabric is pulled out of the upper and lower seam and wraps around the sprocket as described above. Trousers should be slightly baggy, so that there is give, to prevent the chain pulling the operator's leg into the chainsaw. Instead, the 'baggy' excess fabric is pulled out and into the chain mechanism, thereby stopping the saw. After stopping a saw, the damaged trousers must be scrapped, having done their job.

The saw must be field-stripped to remove the fibres, and to allow it to run again.

If some trousers are washed, the material inside may degrade over time. As a result, these trousers should be replaced, and not washed in hot water too frequently. If the trousers have Avertic as protection, they should be washed regularly to maintain its protective features. Likewise, trousers should be free of rips and tears that may catch on a chain saw or timber when moving through a forest.

In case the trousers are damaged, it is permissible to repair them, only as long the inside protective fabric layers are not damaged. If they are damaged, the trousers are no longer safe and they must be discarded, and a new pair obtained.

Chainsaw protective trousers in the EU must comply with EN ISO 11393-2:2018.

Jacket

For detailed information on fabric ratings, see the section above on trousers. The logic is much the same - the protective materials are designed to slow the chain's rate of cutting and clog the mechanism, rather than protect the wearer completely.

Chainsaw protective jackets in the EU must comply with EN381-11. These boots must be to the appropriate EN20345 standard for general safety footwear,

Whistle and cell phone

In the UK, workers are recommended to carry a whistle to call for help if they are injured. Colleagues may be close by, but unable to hear shouts for help over the noise of a running chainsaw.

In Germany, a "Hilfe im Wald" ("Help in the forest") app shows the next security point where ambulances have access. These safety points are numbered and visible by a pole with an orange head with the point number on it. These numbers are known to ambulances.

See also

  • Chainsaw safety features
  • Protective clothing

References

  • CDC: Preventing Chain Saw Injuries During Tree Removal After a Disaster