Using a chainsaw safely depends upon a lot of factors only one of which is Personal Protective Equipment - PPE. ( Chainsaw boots, chainsaw trousers, chainsaw helmets and in some cases chainsaw gloves and chainsaw jackets.) For more information it's probably best to look at the HSE ( Health and Safety Executive ) website www.hse.gov.uk which can be accessed from our links page along with some other useful sites such as LANTRA and NPTC - National Proficiency Test Council. The requirements for PPE for chainsaw users are basically the same for all users of chainsaws at work with some minor variations depending on the specific job involved. The important point is that wearing PPE is a legal requirement for workers using chainsaws.
The product sections below cover all the required items starting with chainsaw boots. ( EN345-2, EN381-3 ) This section just shows custom designed chainsaw safety boots - more general safety boots are shown in the main safety footwear section. It is allowable to wear normal steel toe capped safety boots along with gaiters or spats which afford some protection against chainsaw injury (EN381-9 ) but can be a hazard themselves in some situations. The HSE leaflet 'Chainsaws at work' describes there use as being for 'occasional users working in even ground where there is little risk of tripping or snagging on undergrowth or brash'. Our chainsaw safety boot range currently consists of four types of leather chainsaw boots and two choices of rubber wellington style chainsaw boots.
The next section shows Chainsaw Safety or Protective Clothing - chainsaw trousers and bib'n'brace conforming to EN381-5 and chainsaw jackets to EN381-11. Leg protection is a must whereas upper body protection is more optional - as the HSE say ' Chainsaw jackets can provide additional protection where operators are at increased risk ( e.g. trainees, unavoidable use of a chainsaw above chest height). However this needs to be weighed against increased heat stress generated by physical exertion (eg working from a rope and harness).' That'll be arborists then! Funny - because in the leg protection section they say ' All-round protection is recommended for arborists working in trees and occasional users such as those working in agriculture ' The word 'recommended' has led some arborists and others to believe that they are not required to wear Design C (All-round protection) trousers but if you talk to the HSE you'll find that they do see it as a requirement based on it's status as an 'industry standard' - this is a view backed by the Arboricultural Association - at least that's what I've been told!
Our next sub-section in the Forestry / Arboriculture section is chainsaw helmets. This is limited to helmet / muff / visor units as traditionally worn by foresters and arborists but there are a lot of other products that can be used to protect your head, hearing, eyes and face scattered throughout our website. Helmets tend to be either industrial safety helmets to EN397 or mountaineering style helmets to EN12492. (The HSE say 'Arborists working from a rope and harness may use a suitably adapted rock-climbing helmet'). Hearing protection to EN352-1 is also required as is eye protection to EN1731 (mesh visors) or EN166 (safety glasses) - I guess that would have to include some other products conforming to EN166 such as goggles and faceshields.
Lastly gloves (or mitts). These need to be to EN381-7. Arborists working from ropes and harnesses are excepted from this particular requirement. Most gloves are only Class 0 i.e. tested at a chain speed of 16 m/s but we do have one type which is Class 1 (20 m/s). This is the Bucheron glove which is unusual in that most of the protection to the back of the left hand consists of a shaped polycarbonate guard. This might sound a bit cumbersome but in practise is lighter and less intrusive than the various forms of padding found in conventional chainsaw gloves, as well as giving more protection.
