Follow safety procedures when using chainsaws

Chainsaws are very useful tools for acreage owners, and they can make quick work of unwanted trees and shrubs. They're also very dangerous, so it's important to follow all the necessary precautions.

According to the North Dakota State University Extension, the safest way to prepare yourself for operating a chainsaw is to read the operator's manual and seek training from someone who is experienced with chainsaws. It is very important to become familiar with the recommended safe operational procedures before attempting to work with a chainsaw.

Be sure that you are in top physical and mental condition when operating dangerous machinery. Medications, alcohol, and similar influencing factors can cause you to be a hazard to yourself and others when working with chainsaws. Your chances of injury become much less when you are alert, well-rested, and healthy.

Equip yourself with protective clothing and equipment. Safety goggles, hearing protection, steel-toed shoes, hard hat, gloves, and close-fitting clothing are all advisable when chainsaw work is to be done. Chaps are available that are chainsaw resistant. They are designed to protect the left side of your leg, where most chainsaw injuries occur.

Choose the right saw

There are three sizes of chainsaws to choose from based upon the type of work. Lightweight saws have an 8 to 12 inch guide bar and are best for light work, cutting small branches, and felling very small trees (6 to 10 inch diameter at the cut). Midweight saws are equipped with a 14 to 20 inch guide bar and are excellent for frequent log cutting and felling of small trees (12 to 18 inch diameter at the cut). Heavy weight chainsaws have a guide bar more than 20 inches long and are for professional use, not the average consumer. So, consider the type of work you have to do and select the saw accordingly.

Prepare the saw

Preventive maintenance always pays off with chainsaws. Properly sharpened teeth will cut quickly, smoothly and more safely. Check the chain tension and lubrication system for proper function.

A clean air filter, good sparkplug, and effective muffler will make for a better running engine, making your work easier and safer. Follow the manufacturer's advice in the operator's manual when making adjustments to the chain or engine.

Be sure to wear gloves or cover the chain with a heavy rag when sharpening the saw teeth. The newly sharpened teeth will easily inflict injury. File or grind according to instructions for best performance.

Proper chain tension helps to ensure long chain life and safer cutting. A chain that is too loose will tend to derail and whip about dangerously. On the other hand, a chain that is too tight will bind and wear prematurely. All chains stretch with use and frequently need checking and readjusting. Good lubrication helps to prolong chain life and maintain tension adjustment. Check the oil often and refill according to instructions. Be sure to use the correct bar oil.

Starting and operating techniques

Always use both hands when starting a chainsaw, one to hold the saw and the other to pull the starter rope. Some chainsaws can also be held down with a foot while starting Check the owner's manual for additional starting information. Grip the top handle of the saw firmly and pull the starter rope quickly. It is not a safe practice to start a chainsaw while holding it in mid-air with one hand. Always start it on the ground on a stable surface.

Always use both hands to control the chainsaw. Cutting a tree or limb while you have only one hand controlling the saw is very dangerous. Never force a chainsaw through a cut, if it is properly sharpened and adjusted it will cut, almost by itself. Keep in mind that the hardness of the wood will have a major effect on how quickly it cuts.

Felling the tree

There are many things to do and consider before starting to fell a tree. Examine the tree; which way does it lean and how is it weighted? This has a lot to do with the direction it will fall. Is that area clear of people, power and utility lines, or anything that would be hit? Clear the area of people, vehicles, branches and debris.

If an electric power line is in the vicinity of the tree, don't attempt to work on the tree unless you are absolutely certain that it will not interfere with the electric line. If the tree must be removed and you suspect there will be a problem, call the power supplier, they have the expertise to do it safely.

Will the wind have an effect on how and where the tree will fall? What about other trees? A very dangerous hazard is made when the cut tree entangles with another and does not fall completely. Determine the direction of fall carefully as well as an escape route. Don't wait until the tree is falling to decide which way you should move to avoid being hit.

Always plan an escape route to a safe location from where you are working. Your path of retreat should be along a line approximately 45 degrees from the direction of fall of the tree. This is most important when cutting (felling) trees. Select a place to set the chainsaw; it is never recommended to run with a chainsaw in your hand, operating or not. Turn off the chainsaw and set it down; it is replaceable -- you are not.

Plan the cuts carefully. Smaller trees (up to a 6 inch diameter) may be cut clear through with one pass. Larger trees may require a series of cuts.

Start with a 45-degree notch on the side that the tree will fall towards. Cut the bottom of the notch first, about one third of the way through the diameter. The second cut is made at a 45-degree angle that will meet the depth of the first cut.

The felling cut should be made from the opposite side, about 2 inches higher than the floor of the notch. Do not cut all the way through but leave a hinge that will keep the tree from kicking back and upward as it falls. The hinge will be about 1/8 to 1/6 of the diameter where you are cutting but it may vary depending on when the tree starts to fall.

When the tree starts to fall, it is time to shut off the chainsaw, set it down safely, and leave on your planned escape route. Do not return to the site until the tree is down and no longer moving. If the tree should roll, let it; one person cannot stop or control a moving tree.

If a tree happens to be so well balanced that it does not fall after a felling cut has been made, two wedges can be used to start the fall and influence its direction. Always use two wedges and a sledge that has a face 1/3 larger than the face of the wedge.

Plastic wedges are safer than metal since they will not damage the saw teeth or chain. Always remove the chainsaw when wedges are being driven into the cut. Strike the wedge carefully since a careless blow may cause the wedge to pop out of the cut and allow the tree to fall backward, on you.

Never use an axe as the wedge or driver; the head of the axe may shatter and you could be injured by pieces of it. If cutting must be continued, insert the chainsaw into the cut very carefully since the conditions are extremely dangerous.

Limbing the tree

Be sure that the fallen tree is stable and will not move as you work. Examine the situation at every limb to be removed. Be certain that the limb will not bind against the saw. Cut on the opposite side of the tree trunk whenever possible, this keeps the trunk between you and the saw. Never stand on the downhill side when removing limbs. Always keep in mind that the tree trunk may roll as limbs are removed. Watch for limbs that may spring out when they are cut due to the released tension. These limbs can cause injury.

Larger limbs may require more than one cut to be removed safely. Plan the cuts so that there will be no binding. Remember that stored energy can cause a cut to pinch the blade and immobilize your saw. Wedges can be used as previously mentioned. Always plan an escape route when removing large limbs since they may roll when they become free of the tree trunk.

When cutting large limbs and the trunk of the tree into convenient lengths (bucking), be sure the trunk is supported along its entire length and will not roll. Block or wedge the trunk in place, if needed. Cut downward from the top of the trunk (overbuck) about one-third of the diameter and then roll it over to make final cuts.

Wedges can be used to keep the cut open if the log cannot be rolled over. They must be driven with care so they will not come into contact with the chainsaw. Even though this should prevent pinching, always be alert to the situation.

If the limb or tree trunk is supported by both ends, cut downward 1/3 of the way and then finish by cutting upward from the underside to meet the first cut. Be careful to keep the saw out of the dirt, the teeth will throw debris and be dulled, and wear on the chain will be increased.

As limbs become smaller in the cutting process, a saw buck will become handy. It will hold the small logs or limbs at a more comfortable height and prevent them from rolling as they are cut. Some saw bucks can be made collapsible for convenient transporting.

Avoid kickback

Kickback of a chainsaw is 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, hence the term "kickback." Three situations can cause kickback:

• When the nose of the blade strikes another object.
• Starting a bore cut improperly.
• When the blade nose or tip catches the bottom or side of a saw cut during reinsertion.

The best defense against kickback is to keep the tip guard on the chainsaw. However this does limit what you can do with the tool. Some kickback control can be maintained by keeping a firm hold on the saw and using a saw which has a chain-brake or kickback guard.

Always be watchful for blade-pinching situations and plan accordingly. Cut branches at the base of the blade; don't saw with the tip of the blade. Use a high chain speed when reinserting the blade in a cut or removing it from a cut. Keep the saw teeth sharp so they will cut; dull teeth are more likely to cause a kickback. Always cut below shoulder height, otherwise the saw is difficult to control and is too close to your face.

Key safety tips

• Always avoid making cuts with the saw between your legs, always cut with the saw to the outside of your legs.
• Don't stand on a log and saw between your feet.
• Always stand to one side of the limb you are to cut, never straddle it.
• Always keep in mind where the chain will go if it breaks, never position yourself or other people in line with the chain.
• Keep the chain out of the dirt, debris will fly, the teeth will be dulled and the chain life shortened considerably.

Transportation and storage

The chainsaw should be transported in a level position with the gas cap up. Tipping will cause spillage of gasoline, a fire hazard. Do not carry the saw in the passenger area of a vehicle; it is a dangerous thing to have flying around in a vehicle accident. The saw should be transported in a case but if one is not available then keep the bar in a chain guard.

Storage of the chainsaw requires draining the fuel system. In a safe, ventilated area, pour the fuel from the fuel tank into an appropriate container. After emptying the tank run the engine at idle until it stops, this removes any gasoline from the carburetor and fuel lines. Remove the chain and store it in a container of oil to prevent rust. Refer to the owner's manual for additional instructions on proper storage preparations. Keep in a dry place and out of the reach of children.