Echo Gloves: not that Safe?

[Hermio]

I always wear a helmet, ear and eye protection.
Have had branches come down and got hit with some bits, from trees not part of the cut that day.
Dead trees and branches suck.

I saw a video where a feller dropped a dead tree. He backed up at least 20 feet from the tree when it started to fall, but a sharp branch broke off and hit his helmet with enough force to knock him down. It also penetrated his helmet, but thankfully, did not penetrate his skull. I am sure that was a close call.

 

[Sidecarflip]

He is nearly deaf, by the way.

So am I and it's not all bad actually. I can selectively ignore what I don't want to hear....

 

[Hermio]

So am I and it's not all bad actually. I can selectively ignore what I don't want to hear....

And maybe not hear what you want to. I like audiophile-grade sound systems and good music, so I try to protect my ears. Running hobbyist wood shop tools and lawn mowers, tractors and chainsaws makes that difficult. Even with 30dBa hearing protection, long-term damage does occur.

 

[HumBurner]

But you don’t know the injury rates for those guys.

Philbert

That's for sure. And believe me, I don't plan on replicating their behavior. But those guys have probably been swinging saws since they were 5-7 years old.

 

[HumBurner]

Rule number 1 on YouTube chainsaw fail videos seems to be this: chainsaws and ladders do not mix.

That's one thing I absolutely do not do. I get tired telling clients that.

 

[HumBurner]

I always wear a helmet, ear and eye protection.
Have had branches come down and got hit with some bits, from trees not part of the cut that day.
Dead trees and branches suck.

If you're not looking up while falling you're doing it wrong.

 

[HumBurner]

I always wear a helmet, ear and eye protection.
Have had branches come down and got hit with some bits, from trees not part of the cut that day.
Dead trees and branches suck.

There are circumstances where it is dangerous to wear ear protection.

On hazard trees I'll either run with one or no earplugs so I can hear every single sound: from above, the trunk itself (specifically the hinge/fibers, but also for wood separation throughout the trunk), and below.

 

[Husky77]

My uncle had been working with chainsaws for 35 years before he cut into his chainsaw pants for the first time. He seemed a bit shaken but otherwise fine.

Here in Germany folks usually wear protective pants instead of chaps. I always wear protective boots (steel toed plus Kevlar tongue), protective pants, helmet with face shield and ear muffs. Plus a hi-vis shirt/jacket, so they can locate my dead body easier in the forest. (My girlfriend gets angry when I say that.)

When you watch chainsaw videos on YouTube, you can usually tell within the first seconds if this is a chainsaw fail video or shows impressive skills. Full PPE, competent work. Shorts and flip flops, going horribly wrong. The people who know best what they are doing seem to wear the best protection, despite or because of their experience.

It seems us Europeans either take more care or have more common sence. Personally I never use a saw without chainsaw pants boots and helmet, gloves when I feel they are needed. I tried working with chaps, the most awkward things on earth. Catches on everything and very uncomfortable, never again.

 

[Philbert]

Today I finally wore chaps. First time ever. They were a little warm, as I figured, but they did a great job of keeping sawdust off my boots and socks, and for once, I didn't go home with my legs carved up by weeds. On the whole, they might be worth the aggravation even if they didn't block chain cuts.

The pants are also rather hot. OK in colder weather. I use Labonville chaps. They have (4) buckles per leg, so they wrap around almost as much as pants, but have some breathing room at the rear.

The first pair of chaps I bought were heavy duty, full wrap, for extra protection. They were hot and heavy (especially, when wet).

Someone gave me a good deal on a pair of light weight, apron style, ‘homeowners’ chaps, that I thought would be good to have for a helper.

They were lighter and cooler to wear, so I ended up wearing those a lot, for tasks, where I just did not want to put on the heavy chaps.

Same thing with pants. The first pair I bought fit like rain pants filled with diapers. Hot and uncomfortable.

Later on, I was convinced to try some higher end pants. They came in summer grade, and winter grade.

The better quality ones are an investment, but for people who wear them all the time it’s part of the gear / tools of the trade, and cheaper than one ER visit.

Some chaps and pants fit better than others. Some are easier to put on / take off.

Get stuff that you will actually wear. It doesn’t do anything sitting in your truck .

But those guys have probably been swinging saws since they were 5-7 years old.

The videos only show the survivors.

Philbert

 

[Philbert]

I tried working with chaps, the most awkward things on earth. Catches on everything and very uncomfortable, never again.

Different styles / designs of chaps. Also different work situations.

We use them a lot with volunteer groups, where they are shared among several different workers.

I also like them when I’m cutting for only part of the day: I can take them off or put them on, as needed, instead of wearing protective pants all day, which may not be suitable for other tasks that I am doing.

Good to have choices.

Philbert

 

[Paul Bunions]

It seems us Europeans either take more care or have more common sence. Personally I never use a saw without chainsaw pants boots and helmet, gloves when I feel they are needed. I tried working with chaps, the most awkward things on earth. Catches on everything and very uncomfortable, never again.

I don't know, man. It's 2024, and you still drive on the wrong side of the road. My wife is from an African former colony, and it has taken me nearly a year to get her to brave the right lane. I like 220 power, however.

The videos only show the survivors.

Ouch. This will make people mad. But it's true. I was researching this stuff for woodworking, and I learned that the people who sacrifice digits generally aren't beginners. They're old guys who think they know everything. And do the old-timers get fired up when you tell them this!

 

[HumBurner]

I don't know, man. It's 2024, and you still drive on the wrong side of the road. My wife is from an African former colony, and it has taken me nearly a year to get her to brave the right lane. I like 220 power, however.



Ouch. This will make people mad. But it's true. I was researching this stuff for woodworking, and I learned that the people who sacrifice digits generally aren't beginners. They're old guys who think they know everything. And do the old-timers get fired up when you tell them this!

Anyone who thinks they know or have experienced everything will be sorely mistaken and end up paying a hefty price.

 

[Hermio]

If you're not looking up while falling you're doing it wrong.

Maybe. But when you start running, you had best look where you are going instead of up.

 

[Hermio]

I don't know, man. It's 2024, and you still drive on the wrong side of the road. My wife is from an African former colony, and it has taken me nearly a year to get her to brave the right lane. I like 220 power, however.



Ouch. This will make people mad. But it's true. I was researching this stuff for woodworking, and I learned that the people who sacrifice digits generally aren't beginners. They're old guys who think they know everything. And do the old-timers get fired up when you tell them this!

Only the UK people drive on the wrong side of the road. The rest of Europe drives on the right side of the road.

 

[Marley5]

My brother ( 60 ) is a logger and roofer..... never wore safety glasses, hearing protection, gloves, chaps and doesn't wear a seatbelt.
His favorite word is HUH ? and he's lost a couple of fingers over the years and went through a windshield once.
Me ( 63 ) won't even start a saw without everything mentioned above and I wear a seatbelt

 

[HumBurner]

Maybe. But when you start running, you had best look where you are going instead of up.

Yes and no. That's dependent on each situation.


I generally walk my escape route several times and make foot impressions if the ground/duff permits, so I can hit my escape route facing forward (toward the tree) or backward (away from the tree.)

I also thoroughly clear the escape route when it's critical so that there is no question of tripping over a stick or slipping on leaf-litter.

Again, situational.

 

[Hermio]

My brother ( 60 ) is a logger and roofer..... never wore safety glasses, hearing protection, gloves, chaps and doesn't wear a seatbelt.
His favorite word is HUH ? and he's lost a couple of fingers over the years and went through a windshield once.
Me ( 63 ) won't even start a saw without everything mentioned above and I wear a seatbelt

You would think he would learn. He should have chosen safer professions.

 

[Philbert]

Ouch. This will make people mad. But it's true. I was researching this stuff for woodworking, and I learned that the people who sacrifice digits generally aren't beginners. They're old guys who think they know everything. And do the old-timers get fired up when you tell them this!

We refer to this as ‘survivor’s bias’. An example:

A guy gets up in a bar and loudly states: ‘I NEVER WEAR SEATBELTS, AND I’M STILL ALIVE!’. A bunch of guys nod in agreement.

The problem is that the people who died, not wearing seatbelts, are not there to object, or offer a different perspective.

Accident, incident, and injury statistics are developed from large numbers of people, not just from ‘everybody’ that some guy knows.

I have seen videos, and read reports, of things with saw use, tree cutting, etc., that I would never have believed.

Philbert