University of Wisconsin - Extension

Homeowners and small woodland owners routinely use chain saws for trimming trees and cutting firewood. Although chain saws are easy to use, they can be dangerous in inexperienced hands. Mark Rickenbach, UW-Madison/Extension forest ecology and management specialist, recommends that property owners go through safety training in order to avoid injury.

Safety training and a safe, well-maintained chain saw can significantly reduce your chance of injury. For the professional forest worker or the weekend lumberjack, the cost of even a minor accident is likely to be greater than the cost of a fully equipped chain saw and the time spent learning its safe operation.

FISTA, the Forest Industry Safety and Training Alliance, provides chain saw safety training throughout Wisconsin each year and sponsors workshops for landowners in many locations. FISTA's chain saw safety programs cover Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), body mechanics, OSHA regulations, chain saw features and maintenance, tools for safe tree felling, a demonstration of safe tree felling, and limbing, bucking and topping. For a schedule of FISTA chain saw safety training workshops, visit their web site at http://hosting.newnorth.net/fista/.

It is also important to have a chain saw with the proper safety features. A University of Wisconsin-Extension publication, "Buying a Safe Chain Saw" (G3206), offers recommendations for buying the right chain saw and using it safely.

One of the best indicators of chain saw quality is its use by forest workers, as their livelihood depends on reliable equipment. Many manufacturers make a professional line and a semi-professional line of power saws. The semi-professional line is a good choice if you plan to use it occasionally for cutting ten cords of wood or less per year.

It's best to match the size of the saw with your cutting needs. If you plan to cut mainly small trees (12 inches in diameter or less), a chain saw with a 2 to 3.5 cubic inch engine will do. If you plan to cut mainly large trees (16 inches in diameter or more), you'll need a more powerful saw-in the 3.5 to 4.5 cubic inch range. The length of the guide bar should match the size of the saw. A 14-inch guide bar is recommended for smaller chain saws and a 16-inch bar for larger models. Purchase the shortest bar that meets your cutting needs, as the risk of serious injury increases with guide bar length.

A chain saw is a potentially dangerous tool. To minimize the chance of injury, you must feel comfortable when working with the saw. It should be light, well balanced and provide enough power to do the job required. It should be designed for easy maintenance and refueling.

To reduce the risk of serious injury, the chain saw you purchase should be equipped with the following safety features:

-- A front handle guard with an inertia chain brake protects the operator from injuries caused by kickback, which occurs when the nose portion of the guide bar is used incorrectly. Contact with the front handle guard or the sudden jolt of a kickback will engage the chain brake, stopping the chain immediately.

-- Novice chain saw operators should use a power saw equipped with a safety chain. The cutters on a safety chain have a low profile, reducing the risk of kickback.

-- The chain catcher, a metal or hard plastic stud under the clutch cover, prevents a broken chain from "whipping" off the guide bar and onto your legs.

-- Right hand guard: The lower portion of the rear handle should be flared to protect your right hand in case the chain breaks.

-- A throttle lock prevents accidental throttling of the chain saw and ensures that you have a good grip on the rear handle before accelerating the saw.

Other safety features include vibration-damping mounts, a sprocket-nosed guide bar and a well-maintained muffler.

Another UW-Extension publication, "Protective Clothing for Chain Saw Operators" (G3177), describes recommended protective clothing, such as a hard hat with ear and eye protection, safety gloves or mitts, leg protection and safety boots.

"Buying a Safe Chain Saw" (G3206) and "Protective Clothing for Chain Saw Operators" (G3177) are part of the Wisconsin Woodlands series. These and other publications are available from your county UW-Extension office or from Cooperative Extension Publications at 608-262-3346 or toll free 877-947-7827 (WIS-PUBS). The publications can also be viewed online at http://www1.uwex.edu/ces/pubs/index.cfm .

For more information about chain saw safety training, contact FISTA at 3243 Golf Course Rd., Rhinelander, WI 54501, call toll free 800-551-2656 or email to fista@newnorth.net. FISTA training workshops are listed on their web site at http://hosting.newnorth.net/fista/.