Chainsaw safety covers the protective equipment, operating techniques, and situational awareness required to prevent injury when operating a chainsaw. Chainsaws are among the most dangerous tools on a homestead, with the potential for severe lacerations, kickback injuries, and fatalities. The majority of chainsaw accidents result from inadequate protective equipment, improper cutting technique, or operator fatigue. Chainsaw Maintenance is an integral part of safety, as a poorly maintained saw is more hazardous to operate.
Full chainsaw protective equipment includes a hard hat with face screen and hearing protection, chainsaw chaps or pants, cut-resistant gloves, and steel-toed boots with aggressive tread. Chainsaw chaps contain multiple layers of ballistic nylon fabric that binds the chain if contact occurs, stopping the chain before it reaches the leg. Hearing protection is essential because chainsaw noise levels reach 100 to 120 decibels, sufficient to cause permanent hearing damage with prolonged exposure.
Kickback is the most dangerous chainsaw hazard, occurring when the upper quadrant of the bar nose contacts wood or another object, causing the bar to kick upward and backward toward the operator. Kickback-reducing chains and bars, as well as chain brakes, are standard safety features on modern saws. The operator should avoid cutting with the bar nose, keep the chain sharp, and maintain a firm grip with both hands at all times. The chain brake should engage automatically during severe kickback or can be activated manually.
Tree felling requires assessment of the tree's lean, wind direction, escape route, and potential hazards such as dead branches, power lines, or nearby structures. The conventional felling cut consists of a directional notch cut on the fell side, followed by a back cut on the opposite side slightly above the notch hinge. An escape route at 45 degrees away from the felling direction is cleared before cutting begins. Limbing, the removal of branches from a felled tree, is performed from the trunk side with the saw on the opposite side of the trunk from the operator to avoid being struck by the bar.