Felling trees as a logger is one of the most dangerous jobs in America, which means even those at home are risking their life or limbs when working with a chainsaw.
If you’re new to operating a chainsaw and haven’t had someone around to mentor you, it might be smart to take a chainsaw safety training course.
Even those that had a crash course on safety from a relative or friend might stand to learn a thing or two from a professionally run safety course.
Online Chainsaw Safety Training Courses
There are a wide number of online safety courses out there, but perhaps the best is Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) compliant courses.
These courses cover basic chainsaw safety, chainsaw operation, and proper cutting techniques. They will go over everything from how to properly fell a tree to the different parts of a chainsaw.
While these classes are mainly aimed at employers and employees, the courses offer a wealth of information for any homeowner.
SafeTraining.com offers a well-built program at a reasonable price. The class is only about an hour long but covers just about everything you’ll need to know and you’ll get a certificate at the end.
If you’re more interested in free classes and information, YouTube is a great resource for basic chainsaw safety and proper chainsaw operations.
Simply searching “chainsaw safety” will return thousands of quality videos for you to review on your own.
Offline Chainsaw Safety Training Courses
Some people prefer live demonstrations and instructors and for those people, there are offline chainsaw safety courses.
Oftentimes, local governments or government forestry and wildlife agencies offer chainsaw safety classes. You can commonly find a private company offering classes as well.
These classes are usually more expensive than an online course, but they offer hands-on training and one-on-one time with a qualified instructor.
They will typically also provide you with a certificate which can be useful if you’re looking to get a job with a tree-cutting company or a logging crew.
For that reason, those looking to seriously learn how to safely operate a chainsaw and understand the basics of proper cutting techniques should seek out a local safety course.
Personal Protective Equipment
Besides offline and online classes, you should also consider getting personal protective equipment.
The most common chainsaw injuries are to the legs, arms, or face. Therefore, it makes sense to wear protection in those areas to prevent the most serious injuries.
Chainsaw Chaps
The most common piece of protective gear worn by professional and at-home chainsaw operators is cut-resistant chainsaw chaps.
These chaps are usually made from kevlar and can prevent serious leg injuries caused by a runaway saw.
A good pair of chainsaw chaps have kevlar fibers that near-instantly jam the saw and stop the blade from doing serious damage to your leg.
Hand Protection
You’ll probably wear gloves anyways when handling rough-sawn logs, so why not get a pair that can also stop a saw on contact?
Like chainsaw chaps, there are gloves that use the same kevlar fibers and will stop the chain from moving if your hands ever slip and come in contact with the saw.
Head And Neck Protection
When logging, the pros wear helmets and you should too. Falling branches from trees can be fatal and helmets are the easiest way to protect yourself from them.
Companies also make helmets with metal face guards designed to protect your head and neck from dangerous chainsaw kickbacks.
Final Thoughts
If you’re interested in learning how to operate your chainsaw safely, there are a variety of online and offline chainsaw safety training courses available for you to take.
Chainsaws are dangerous and it’s important to use the proper techniques and wear the proper protection when using one.
Hundreds of people die every year and thousands are injured from chainsaws, don’t become part of the statistic!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
What are the Hazards of a Chainsaw?
Chainsaws are extremely hazardous and without proper training, you can easily injure or kill yourself.
The chains on a chainsaw have extremely sharp teeth that move at over 50 miles per hour and can quickly take a leg off. Sometimes, a chainsaw can even kick back at lightning speeds when used improperly and hit the operator in the torso or face.
Proper face protection and cut-resistant clothing are essential when operating a chainsaw if you want to stay out of the emergency room. Avoid the hazards of a chainsaw and always use proper techniques.
How do I learn to use a Chainsaw?
Most people learn how to use a chainsaw from a relative, friend, or employer. If you're interested in learning proper chainsaw safety use, offline or online courses are a great resource to use.
Free and paid online courses are easily accessible to anyone with an internet connection or a local library.
Offline and in-person courses are often provided by local governments or government organizations. There are also private companies and groups offering courses in most areas.
