Six chainsaw safety tips

A chainsaw can be an extremely handy tool. However, it should be approached carefully, as mishandling a chainsaw could result in serious injury.

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1. Hold

Holding a chainsaw properly is vital. Users should adopt what is called the boxer stance, knees bent, a shoulder width apart, and one in front of the other. Operate the saw with both hands, and always watch the bar – or what you might think of as the blade – of the chainsaw.

2. Planning

Plan ahead, noting where you are going to place the bar to commence cutting, and where the cut will end, and where the bar will go then, as you don’t want it to go into your foot. Greg Norman, the golfer, was injured when a chainsaw cut his arm. For more on his accident, see this report in The Guardian.

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3. Be prepared

When you start cutting, the chainsaw will exert a pull on you. Be prepared for this, and don’t let it pull you off balance.

4. Reduce kickback

Just to be on the safe side, make sure your chainsaw has a reduced kickback saw chain which makes it a lot safer to use, even if it is a little slower.

5. Safety gear

Invest in the appropriate safety gear, such as goggles, hearing protection, gloves and protective clothing.

6. Maintenance

Keep your chainsaw in good repair as well, replacing any parts that may be worn or damaged. If you want to find out more about Mountfield Spares for a mower or chainsaw, then it would make sense to contact a reputable group in this field, such as https://www.diyspareparts.com/parts/mountfield/.

Chainsaws can be a great help, especially in the garden where there are trees and bushes to trim, but it is easy to make a mistake and pay a high price for it. Greg Norman was lucky when he insured himself, as there would be no lasting nerve damage to his arm, but in another situation, a chainsaw user may not be so fortunate. The important thing is to plan ahead, making sure you are using the chainsaw in the correct way, with the correct gear and that you have a plan for what you intend to achieve. Provided that you are organised, then using the chainsaw should go as planned.

 

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