PPE?

[Ambull01]

This question may not be in the right section.

Why don't you guys wear some type of protective upper body attire?

I only hear about the standard gloves, chaps, helmet, face shield, ear protection, eye protection, and boots but not much about protecting the upper body. Lower body chainsaw injury is probably the most common but, in the case of a horizontal kick back event, wouldn't your upper body stand to benefit wearing PPE?

I ask this because I have a new motorcycle textile fabric jacket that I bought several years ago, never worn. I was planning on buying a motorcycle but never did so it's just sitting in my closet. It was body armor on the shoulder region, back, elbows, etc. Seems like it would offer some protection but would probably make me look like an idiot wearing it to cut firewood.

 

[UpOnTheHill]

Your motorcycle jacket is to protect from sliding across the asphalt and blunt forces. Definitely better than a t-shirt for protection while sawing but its not made to stop hardened, sharp cutting teeth. Do you have protective footwear? I'd put my money there before a protective shirt. Protect your piggy's!

 

[cantoo]

If you wear a jacket when you cut wood then you ain't cutting enough wood.
You can only be safe from so many things and being too "bundled" up is also a danger. I prefer to wear a minimum of clothing so I normally wear heavy Tough Duck type coveralls with a heavy coat that I take off when cutting. During the summer I wear heavy Tough Duck logger pants and a tee shirt, usually soaking wet. I work according to my body temperature, when I get hot from limbing I take a break and just cut trees down or drag some to the landing with the tractor. FYI, I don't wear much ppe. Glassses, headphones(radio), gloves, workboots, heavy pants, and common sense.
This picture shows why it's a good idea to wear safety glasses. A spring loaded branch split away and flew at me, you can see right were it hit me and raked across my face. Glasses saved my eye for sure. The scar above my eye if from not wearing a hardhat on a jobsite, a piece of plywood fell off the roof and hit my head. The balding is from my dutch wife.

 

[UpOnTheHill]

Ouch! Glad you're ok cantoo. That must have hurt. I think common sense and knowing my abilities is the best safety gear i can get. My brother and father come over to help me gather firewood usually a couple times a year - neither of them burn. Sometimes I walk away from trees that I'm not comfortable taking down and they just don't get it. They even get irritated with me saying things like "why are you going to find a different tree, this one is right here and so are we". That's when I say something like "I like having you guys around and my wife and kids like having me around". I'd rather go deeper into the woods to find a safer tree to harvest. I cut about 90% dead or mostly dead trees which can do funny things when felling them. I'm no expert on reading and felling trees and I recognize that fact. Be safe and feel good about what you're doing.

 

[Ambull01]

Your motorcycle jacket is to protect from sliding across the asphalt and blunt forces. Definitely better than a t-shirt for protection while sawing but its not made to stop hardened, sharp cutting teeth. Do you have protective footwear? I'd put my money there before a protective shirt. Protect your piggy's!

True, no reason for asphalt protection when cutting firewood. Nope, only using my Army combat boots at the moment. Probably offers very little actual protection because it is soft leather material and fabric.

If you wear a jacket when you cut wood then you ain't cutting enough wood.
You can only be safe from so many things and being too "bundled" up is also a danger. I prefer to wear a minimum of clothing so I normally wear heavy Tough Duck type coveralls with a heavy coat that I take off when cutting. During the summer I wear heavy Tough Duck logger pants and a tee shirt, usually soaking wet. I work according to my body temperature, when I get hot from limbing I take a break and just cut trees down or drag some to the landing with the tractor. FYI, I don't wear much ppe. Glassses, headphones(radio), gloves, workboots, heavy pants, and common sense.
This picture shows why it's a good idea to wear safety glasses. A spring loaded branch split away and flew at me, you can see right were it hit me and raked across my face. Glasses saved my eye for sure. The scar above my eye if from not wearing a hardhat on a jobsite, a piece of plywood fell off the roof and hit my head. The balding is from my dutch wife.
View attachment 377009

Haven't tried the jacket yet, just thought it may help. I can see how decreasing range of motion would lessen safety. I always wear safety glasses now after my weed eater incident. Something flew in my eye as I weeded a patch of vines. Eye lids swelled up and my vision blurred. It was the only thing I could think about for several hours lol.

Probably left a cool tough guy scar. That pic will motivate me even more to wear PPE, never know what could happen.

 

[Ambull01]

Ouch! Glad you're ok cantoo. That must have hurt. I think common sense and knowing my abilities is the best safety gear i can get. My brother and father come over to help me gather firewood usually a couple times a year - neither of them burn. Sometimes I walk away from trees that I'm not comfortable taking down and they just don't get it. They even get irritated with me saying things like "why are you going to find a different tree, this one is right here and so are we". That's when I say something like "I like having you guys around and my wife and kids like having me around". I'd rather go deeper into the woods to find a safer tree to harvest. I cut about 90% dead or mostly dead trees which can do funny things when felling them. I'm no expert on reading and felling trees and I recognize that fact. Be safe and feel good about what you're doing.

My wife wants me to rent a bucket lift and cut a branch that's hanging about 30-40 feet up. It broke during a summer storm and wedged itself into another section (not sure how else to describe it). I was going to do it until I found this site and started reading how quick things can go wrong. Now I'll leave it to a pro.

 

[cantoo]

Ambull, get a slingshot and shoot a small rope up over that branch, pull a heavier rope over it. Hook that rope onto your car and pull that ****** down. Pull slow though.
I never rent anything and I never hire professionals,,,, and I have the scars to prove it.

 

[CTYank]

Unless I have other ear protection in place and mesh goggles over prescription safety glasses, I wear a Husqy combo helmet. Funny how many species of wood toss bark chips at your eyes. Don't want to have to cut by braille, thanks.

With anything of "interest" overhead, the helmet is on. Only saw I'll run without hearing protection is my little 25 cc polesaw. Other than that one, even a "quiet" chainsaw requires use of muffs or plugs; they're all as quiet as possible.

After a bit, this PPE becomes like seat-belts. You don't even think about it, you just put 'em on.

 

[Ambull01]

Ambull, get a slingshot and shoot a small rope up over that branch, pull a heavier rope over it. Hook that rope onto your car and pull that ****** down. Pull slow though.
I never rent anything and I never hire professionals,,,, and I have the scars to prove it.

Oh man that's a pretty good idea. Hillbilly can do attitude right there. It may pull my caddy's bumper off.

I saw something on t.v. about hillbilly inventions. Watched a guy shoot an arrow with fishing line attached to the end over a branch. Tied the end of the line to a rope after shooting it over. Then the guy tied a rope chainsaw and cut the branch down. That gave me motivation so I went outside on a freaking mission. Had a branch that broke off suspended in mid air by vines. The branch was about 20-25 feet up. I was trying to throw a rope over it for several weeks but could never get it high enough. I found a toy Matchbox car and tied fishing line to it. Threw the car over the branch and tied the other end to a rope. Pulled the rope over the branch, got both sides of the rope, and pulled for dear life. Ended up with both of my legs pressed against the tree trunk and my body was perpendicular to the ground. Branch finally fell and I dropped to the ground. Wife watched the whole thing and was laughing hysterically. Deep down, I think she was impressed lol.

Unless I have other ear protection in place and mesh goggles over prescription safety glasses, I wear a Husqy combo helmet. Funny how many species of wood toss bark chips at your eyes. Don't want to have to cut by braille, thanks.

With anything of "interest" overhead, the helmet is on. Only saw I'll run without hearing protection is my little 25 cc polesaw. Other than that one, even a "quiet" chainsaw requires use of muffs or plugs; they're all as quiet as possible.

After a bit, this PPE becomes like seat-belts. You don't even think about it, you just put 'em on.

Mesh goggles? Damn, never knew they had such a thing. I think I need the whole nine yards. Combo helmet, rubber boots, etc. I wear safety glasses, boots, and earplugs with my weed eater. Probably look like a dork but after that thing flew in my eye I don't care about fashion statements.

 

[CTYank]

Mesh goggles? Damn, never knew they had such a thing. I think I need the whole nine yards. Combo helmet, rubber boots, etc. I wear safety glasses, boots, and earplugs with my weed eater. Probably look like a dork but after that thing flew in my eye I don't care about fashion statements.

Available recently for $9: http://www.baileysonline.com/Safety-First-Aid/Safety-Glasses/Goggles/Wire-Mesh-Safety-Goggles.axd

No mesh "glasses"/goggles are ANSI-compliant eye protection. Like visor on combo-helmet, they'll keep dust & chips (think- wind gusts) out of your eyes. The kind of poo that ends a job for the day. I really hate that when it happens.

 

[unclemoustache]

My wife wants me to rent a bucket lift and cut a branch that's hanging about 30-40 feet up. It broke during a summer storm and wedged itself into another section (not sure how else to describe it). I was going to do it until I found this site and started reading how quick things can go wrong. Now I'll leave it to a pro.

Don't see how you could go wrong with a bucket. Get yer tushie up there and cut only what you think you can manage at a time. Start with the small end first, and be aware of teeter-tottering on that branch when the weight evens out. I can rent a 50' lift for $300/day. Maybe you can clean up your other trees while you have it, (or better yet, get your neighbor to help pay to do his as well).

 

[Ambull01]

Available recently for $9: http://www.baileysonline.com/Safety-First-Aid/Safety-Glasses/Goggles/Wire-Mesh-Safety-Goggles.axd

No mesh "glasses"/goggles are ANSI-compliant eye protection. Like visor on combo-helmet, they'll keep dust & chips (think- wind gusts) out of your eyes. The kind of poo that ends a job for the day. I really hate that when it happens.

Nice!!! Thanks for posting that. I'm getting those goggles with the helmet combo. Boom, PPE for head area solved.

Don't see how you could go wrong with a bucket. Get yer tushie up there and cut only what you think you can manage at a time. Start with the small end first, and be aware of teeter-tottering on that branch when the weight evens out. I can rent a 50' lift for $300/day. Maybe you can clean up your other trees while you have it, (or better yet, get your neighbor to help pay to do his as well).

I think the hardware store near me is about that price too. Was thinking about cutting that limb and installing a stainless steel chimney liner with insulation at the same time. I have a 3 story steep roof. I'm not afraid of heights but I am scared of falling. A ladder may be a no go for me. I have to research where the balance/center of gravity is on that thing so as to keep it from tipping over.

 

[unclemoustache]

I don't think those things CAN tip over if you have only the recommended weight in the bucket. I've been far extended to the sides on those things, and never had a prob, although I was nervous about tipping.

 

[Ambull01]

If that's the case it's a done deal. I'm going to be pretty freaking nervous.

That Bailey's site is great. It has everything I could possibly need/want for firewood cutting.

 

[pro94lt]

More than likely you'll be able to hire a pro for less than renting and burning a day on it... 3 neighbors about 5 miles from me got a plan that they could all split the cost of a lift and do their own tree work. They went 1 for 3 first job they got the tree down second house the limb hit the house busted decking and rafters and shingles. Third they also hit the roof it was a metal roof put several holes in it...

 

[UpOnTheHill]

More than likely you'll be able to hire a pro for less than renting and burning a day on it... 3 neighbors about 5 miles from me got a plan that they could all split the cost of a lift and do their own tree work. They went 1 for 3 first job they got the tree down second house the limb hit the house busted decking and rafters and shingles. Third they also hit the roof it was a metal roof put several holes in it...

Had you known they were going to put on such a show, you could have sold tickets. That sounds like a great time. A lawn chair, a cooler of cold beverages and a lil red wagon. I'd follow them house to house and setup my own spectator area. I've had a few laughs imagining these guys. Thanks for posting!

 

[esshup]

I don't think those things CAN tip over if you have only the recommended weight in the bucket. I've been far extended to the sides on those things, and never had a prob, although I was nervous about tipping.

Same here. First time I was in one I extended the arm all the way out to the side, and had it close to the ground, thinking it would tip but only far enough to make the arm touch the ground. When it didn't I figured it wouldn't tip with the arm higher up in the air.

I tell you what tho, it's a bit unsettling the first time you go up high with one and you're only standing on the wire mesh bottom. I was in one that went over 100' up and just the play in the telescoping arm when you walked from one side of the cage to the other felt like I was in a boat on the ocean. You get used to it tho, and don't think about it after a while. For me, that "a while" was a week......................

 

[Ambull01]

So I guess I should see if a pro can do it with a bucket truck or if they'll use ropes. I heard if they use ropes it will be a lot more.

Also have to check out the floor of the bucket lift. If it's wire mesh I don't think I'm getting into it.

 

[Ambull01]

Actually that doesn't make sense does it? lol. If little ole me can get a bucket lift in there, a pro will be able to get a bucket truck in too. Get it together Ambull.

 

[Junis]

Working in a forrest environment is a risky business. Infact the number of severe injuries and even deaths is drasticly higher for foresty workers, compared to any other regular working group. 23 times higher annual fatality and 6 times more injuries than any other US working groups (Source: NIOSH publication). It´s time to stop talking about price or if one should wear PPE or not. Right focus should be on what is the best protection. Do you know what kind of protection you have in your chaps, gloves, boots and how it works?
If not, take a look here www.avertic.com to learn more.

If you have any questions about chainsaw protective fabrics, please post it here.

Safety First!