Chaps

[Rockjock]

My dad was a logger in the Sierra Mountain Range in the 1930's. He wasn't much of an instructor in the 60's , but a very good demonstrator. He showed how it was done, and expected you to do it, and do it right. So, by watching him, you learned not only how it was done, but why. The only safety equipment we used was our noggins'. Never heard of chaps, or earplugs. Gloves; Why? Coats were only worn till you were ready to start workin'. and a light weight saw ?! If I could lift it, that was light enough.

Yes I agree with you.
Them that can do.
Them that can't teach.
Then there are those like your dad that can do both. You are lucky to have been taught by him as I am sure others were as well. I think many of us have had people like that in our lives and are all the better for it. My take on it is that many people cut wood part time, every now and again. I know that after I am cutting up a downed tree I have muscles that I did not know I had are sore. I think it is all about practice. And for many of us the PPE is just an added piece of insurance. I wear my chaps, helmet with hearing protection and a face shield. When I ride my horse its proper shoes, helmet and the right mindset. For me it is part of the package.

 

[Philbert]

The only safety equipment we used was our noggins'.

Respectfully, Sagetown, that is the 'safety/survivor fallacy', "Well, I never (wore seat belts, used chaps, used fall protection, wore condoms, drove sober, , ) and I am here today!" How about all the people who did not make it? They can't stand up and make the counter argument, even if they outnumber you.

But we have lot of data and statistics on injuries and fatalities that speak for some of them. Unless you are willing to say that they were all dumb asses who did not know what they were doing or it was their own damn fault, you have to look at ways to prevent that stuff from happening again, or at least reducing the risk. Watch all those YouTube videos with idiots falling trees onto their cars or houses and listen to the audio. "It was an accident! Could not have been prevented!" And you know it could have been.

Smartest guy in the woods can't know everything or predict everything. Difference between 'working safe' and 'being lucky' is paying attention to what has happened to others, what others have learned, and working in a way so that if an undesirable event occurs, you minimize the chance of someone getting hurt or causing major damage.

Philbert

 

[RandyMac]

Respectfully, Sagetown, that is the 'safety/survivor fallacy', "Well, I never (wore seat belts, used chaps, used fall protection, wore condoms, drove sober, , ) and I am here today!" How about all the people who did not make it? They can't stand up and make the counter argument, even if they outnumber you.

But we have lot of data and statistics on injuries and fatalities that speak for some of them. Unless you are willing to say that they were all dumb asses who did not know what they were doing or it was their own damn fault, you have to look at ways to prevent that stuff from happening again, or at least reducing the risk. Watch all those YouTube videos with idiots falling trees onto their cars or houses and listen to the audio. "It was an accident! Could not have been prevented!" And you know it could have been.

Smartest guy in the woods can't know everything or predict everything. Difference between 'working safe' and 'being lucky' is paying attention to what has happened to others, what others have learned, and working in a way so that if an undesirable event occurs, you minimize the chance of someone getting hurt or causing major damage.

Philbert

BS

 

[Philbert]

BS

So you're saying that everyone you knew, or knew of, who was injured or killed in the woods just did not know what they were doing? And you are still here because you were smarter or something?

Philbert

 

[RandyMac]

So you're saying that everyone you knew, or knew of, who was injured or killed in the woods just did not know what they were doing? And you are still here because you were smarter or something?

Philbert

You give the noobs concise, valuable information and you also give an image that anyone who fails to follow your advice or hasn't seen the need to swaddle themselves, as lucky fools.
That is simply not the case.

 

[Philbert]

You give the noobs concise, valuable information and you also give an image that anyone who fails to follow your advice or hasn't seen the need to swaddle themselves, as lucky fools. That is simply not the case.

Agreed. A fool in PPE is still a fool. A trained, skilled, experienced worker (in any occupation) who assumes that things will never happen to him, even though it has happened to other trained, skilled, experienced workers, because it has not yet, has been lucky.

Philbert

 

[RandyMac]

Agreed. A fool in PPE is still a fool. A trained, skilled, experienced worker (in any occupation) who assumes that things will never happen to him, even though it has happened to other trained, skilled, experienced workers, because it has not yet, has been lucky.

Philbert

So, you subscribe to the old "rather be lucky than good"? That a self defeating mindset and will cause failure. You need some better cliches for the Kevlar Crew.

 

[Philbert]

So, you subscribe to the old "rather be lucky than good"? That a self defeating mindset and will cause failure. You need some better cliches for the Kevlar Crew.

That's the opposite of what I am saying Randy. Luck is fickle runs out. Skill and experience take time to develop. And even skilled and experienced workers can be surprised by something new, or unexpected. PPE does not make you safe to do stupid things, or things beyond your abilities. It hedges your bet that you will be able to keep working, rather than taking a 'SH*T HAPPENS' attitude. It goes along with work skills, maintaining your equipment, 'the proper mindset', etc.

Philbert

 

[snoozeys]

Going by those numbers I should wear my running shoes haha

 

[MCW]

And then there is the broken chain that wraps around somebody's leg where nobody is to blame. No amount of experience can prevent that scenario.

Dammit, I'm drifting towards a safety nazi. Sorry guys...

 

[rich450es]

so a quick recap .......yes you should use the chaps and a jacket butttttt you shouldent be told to use them by someone on the internet (nazi) and dont get cought in germany fishing without a licence .....lol recap complete

 

[Cider]

As a total noob, I figured the cost of proper chaps and helmet in getting set up with my first saw. It wasn't cheap, but then getting a device that uses a motorbike engine to fling blades through ****ing trees at high speed wasn't a casual decision for me. I'm a nerd like that.

I didn't like the chaps I tried, I thought they were a pain to get into and I feared that might discourage me from using them. I found the Stihl pro pants really comfortable, so I swallowed the cost and bought them. They were so expensive I wouldn't dare NOT use them

Using the saw is something I take seriously and I dress accordingly to do it. I know I'm just a noob, and the old hands on the internet will probably mock me, but I know what feels right to me.

 

[Rockjock]

so a quick recap .......yes you should use the chaps and a jacket butttttt you shouldent be told to use them by someone on the internet (nazi) and dont get cought in germany fishing without a licence .....lol recap complete

Zactly! Get caught here in Ontario without a fishing licence and see what happens they fine you and can take away the rods reels boat trailer and car/truck you came in. No fooling around here! Personally wearing my PPE is just second nature. Why take the risk?

 

[redoakneck]

There is nothing like a 200T screaming WOT inches from your jugular vein

....and yer carotid artery and trachea. Everyone likes the jugular vein, but cutting the carotid artery, HIGH PRESSURE supply to the brain, is where the real danger is!!!! It will shoot blood out 10 feet if cut clean, and the neck is a difficult area to apply a tourniquet!!!!


No blood and no air makes for a quick loss of life..

 

[z71mike]

Zactly! Get caught here in Ontario without a fishing licence and see what happens they fine you and can take away the rods reels boat trailer and car/truck you came in. No fooling around here! Personally wearing my PPE is just second nature. Why take the risk?

That sux. Get caught in Jersey, just show him a PBA card or two. Ya probly went to grammar school with the guy's cousin and he lives next door to your grandmother. Everyone shakes hands and it's all good.

 

[zogger]

As a total noob, I figured the cost of proper chaps and helmet in getting set up with my first saw. It wasn't cheap, but then getting a device that uses a motorbike engine to fling blades through ****ing trees at high speed wasn't a casual decision for me. I'm a nerd like that.

I didn't like the chaps I tried, I thought they were a pain to get into and I feared that might discourage me from using them. I found the Stihl pro pants really comfortable, so I swallowed the cost and bought them. They were so expensive I wouldn't dare NOT use them

Using the saw is something I take seriously and I dress accordingly to do it. I know I'm just a noob, and the old hands on the internet will probably mock me, but I know what feels right to me.

Wear the stuff, doesn't hurt a bit. I wear pants when working, so when cutting, I use the husky cutting pants. I wear rubber boots when working on the farm, so..husky chainsaw boots when cutting. Normally don't wear a helmet, but, for chainsawing, you guessed it, husky forestry helmet, very comfortable actually and only ear muffs I ever tried that don't pinch my regular glasses. My regular glasses are prescription safety glasses anyway. I like the mesh screen on the helmet as well.

 

[snoozeys]

Chaps yes when i remember to put them in the truck but a helmet is going to far for me

 

[2dogs]

Kevlar can't fix stupid.

 

[Cider]

a helmet is going to far for me

I reckon the helmet is a pretty convenient way to keep my ear protection and eye protection in one place (eg, on my head). I even use it now when angle/bench grinding in the workshop etc - no need for a helmet there, but the mesh visor doesn't fog up like specs do and the muffs are a good habit to get into.

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

the mesh visor doesn't fog up like specs do.

It won't stop the fine debris from a grinder very well either... you still need eyewear behind the visor.