Total PPE

[memetic]

This has probably been beaten to death randomly over a million random threads, as I have been searching for a day or so and haven't hit the "gold-mine" of info. But, my tree partner and I am about to outfit all of us with new matching safety gear and I want to get some feedback.

Safety glasses: one of the uvex styles.

Hard hats: Bullard Hard Hat - Full Brim

Chaps: 6 Ply Kevlar Chainsaw Chaps (so much for my shorts, solo that is)

Hearing protection: boxes of Spark Plugs or equivalent

We want to be safe, but so far we have been operating at a very minimum. So, knowing there are a plethora of top of the line gear, we just want to get us all reasonably safe at a decent price.

We just want to get us all more safe than we are now and we can upgrade ourselves later.

 

[treemandan]

safety glasses= wire mesh screens with complete head band.BUGZ
whatever is used make sure to strap in on pretty good.

 

[memetic]

I saw the wire mesh screens, that really helps? I mean on a day to day basis? I like the clearest safety glasses I can find I can't imagine looking through a wire mesh. My thought was the mesh would hinder sight and make for a more dangerous situation. I never looked through the things, so what do I know.

Thanks

 

[treemandan]

I saw the wire mesh screens, that really helps? I mean on a day to day basis? I like the clearest safety glasses I can find I can't imagine looking through a wire mesh. My thought was the mesh would hinder sight and make for a more dangerous situation. I never looked through the things, so what do I know.

Thanks

Its a lot of up and down with the screens. First I look at what am about to do with them up then do it with them down, its automatic for me now.
Dust gets in but same with glasses but something that will really wreck your next few days is kept out. Odd things happen though so an odd eye shield is needed. I keep them on all day, everyday.

 

[clearance]

Hardhat with ear muffs and a mesh facescreen. All in one package, easy. Used them for years and years. Vision is not obstructed, you will get used to it quickly. And, if you are falling, bucking and climbing, fallers pants are best.

 

[treemandan]

Hardhat with ear muffs and a mesh facescreen. All in one package, easy. Used them for years and years. Vision is not obstructed, you will get used to it quickly. And, if you are falling, bucking and climbing, fallers pants are best.

The only major problem I have with those helmets is tight quarters and no chin strap and they always break and nobody has the parts.
Perssonally I would like something in a climatized motorcycle helmet with elavator muzac and what the heck toss in the full body suit. It could be solar powered.

 

[clearance]

The only major problem I have with those helmets is tight quarters and no chin strap and they always break and nobody has the parts.
Perssonally I would like something in a climatized motorcycle helmet with elavator muzac and what the heck toss in the full body suit. It could be solar powered.

Chinstraps are available, but they are ghey, the earmuffs will hold the hardhat on. Mine has only come off a couple of times in many years. Perhaps you have used a weak model. I have used them climbing in the bush, swinging from tree to tree, which is tougher on you and the hat than other things.

 

[Jumper]

You did not mention footwear. Steel toes recommended.

I am with clearance go with the pants.

 

[shokidq]

You did not mention footwear. Steel toes recommended.

I am with clearance go with the pants.

With the Kevlar lining

 

[shokidq]

Hardhat with ear muffs and a mesh facescreen. All in one package, easy. Used them for years and years. Vision is not obstructed, you will get used to it quickly. And, if you are falling, bucking and climbing, fallers pants are best.

The only thing with the mesh is it gets dark quicker when working in thinnings. I like my all round protection bibs rather than chaps although pretty dam hot in the sun.

 

[Bigus Termitius]

The only major problem I have with those helmets is tight quarters and no chin strap and they always break and nobody has the parts.
Perssonally I would like something in a climatized motorcycle helmet with elavator muzac and what the heck toss in the full body suit. It could be solar powered.

LOL...or in your case, wind generated. Hey, at least you're being green...though I hear it's not easy.

I'll take mine with symphonic musik. I enjoy it whenever I'm creating a work of art, either on canvas or with a tree. Obviously, I'll take the wind generated version too, the sun doesn't always shine you know. I can guarantee wind.

Did I mention that I'm a surreal abstractionist? Most utility hacks are.

 

[serial killer]

I'm not a big fan of the ear plugs that you have to smush up with your finger to put in your ear. They get filthy and are a hassle getting in and out. I much prefer earmuffs, or at least the foam plugs on the plastic band. I just find myself shifting between spots when I need to hear clearly and spots that are crazy loud too quickly. If I gotta roll up a little plug that I can't find, sometimes I will end up not using them if it's just for a few seconds. I'd rather have a set of muffs that I can just throw on or slide down when needed.

Also, most arborists that I know of use something along the lines of a rock climbing helmet. The Bullard might actually be better, but it just screams "logger." Of course, you didn't say and you might actually be a logger. So, whatever floats your boat. I've used the Petzel Vertex Vent and another type of Petzl that I can't remember. Red for most of the guys and white for the foreman, or whoever gets elected that day to deal with questions from the public.

As far as the face shield, I've never used one, but I've often thought it might be nice when feeding a chipper for those times when a branch wants to whack you in the face. Otherwise, I just like to have a selection of safety glasses that I can switch out depending on conditions. I always have a couple pairs of clear and dark MSAs from Home Depot and like to have some yellow ones around for rainy and overcast days also. I tried a set of orange Stihl glasses recently and had to junk them because they were just too disorienting.

Throw in a fresh pair of the latex dipped gloves every couple of weeks and you're set.

 

[Nailsbeats]

The only thing I like the mesh screen faceshield for is running the chuck-n-duck chipper. Good face protection.

Other than that I run clear or tinted glasses, I can see much more clearly through them.

 

[Pete M]

Vote for the mesh face shield. Provided you focus on what you're working on then you won't even know the shield is there. Only if you focus on the end of your nose do you really notice it. It gets an even bigger vote if you're someone who sweats a lot like me. Glasses are absolutely useless when they've got sweat running down them and dust sticking to them.

And definitely a helmet and ear defenders. I was using ear plugs all the time instead of defenders, but found them awkward when I needed to talk to someone. The plugs are comfortable though - best thing to do is get a pack of 300 so you can put fresh ones in instead of trying to re-use them. Nothing worse than ramming a dirty sweaty swelled up plug in your ear.

 

[memetic]

Thanks for all the input, it's really appreciated. This is where I'm at so far after a little more poking around and after all the great input I got here. It's likely to change as I get more feedback. Still need some more input in the chaps department.


Ear Protection:

I use plugs all the time when I am around construction and have been using them for the tree work lately with good results. My partner and the guys we use all like the plugs. I definitely don't put a dirty pair back in that's just wrong. If it comes out, it stays out. I don't touch new plugs going in to roll them. I roll them in the plastic they come in. You only have to grab the end that doesn't go into your ear to put them in.

I read a lot of people saying to go with the earmuffs so maybe I will get a pair and see how it works out. I like the light-weightness of the plugs myself and I can usually get them in real quick (granted not as quick as earmuffs, unless I set my earmuffs down WAY over there and forgot, then my plugs win).

Eye Protection:

Will probably go with something like this:

http://www.discountsafetygear.com/uvexfitlogic.html

Clear for usual use and maybe a tinted for those times when needed.

I understand the point about the mesh being better because of sweat and dirt etc, otherwise I would get something like these (that are tight to the face):

http://www.discountsafetygear.com/pyramex-goggles.html

But, it would never work for me. I would be blind from sweat and dirt/dust in about 1 minute.

edit: I am still not convinced about not noticing the mesh. My eyes are very sharp and sensitive to obstruction - it is difficult for me to even drive with sunglasses on unless the sun is just too much. I like crystal clear seeing, anything else bothers me. I don't know if anyone else has this problem. Maybe Nailsbeats? Maybe I will try to find them local and try it out.

Head Protection:

Based on the logger comment above and my guys' input about looking stupid, we switched to the "Bullard Hard Hat - Cap Style", from the "Full Brim".

Only my partner climbs right now and he is getting a new "Petzl Vertex Vent Helmet".

Leg Protection:

We are getting the 6 Ply Kevlar Chainsaw Chaps as seen here (the first two at the top):

http://www.wesspur.com/chaps/chaps.html

This is where I still need a lot of input - remember I wear shorts. I like the price range of these for now. But, most important (in this kind of price range) is my crotch being able to breath. Does anyone know of a better chap than the second one from link above? Something airy in the right place, with good protection, in this price range? I want to wear shorts under them and I don't care if the shorts show thru at all.

Foot Protection:

We all already have steel tip boots that's why I left it out. (I got mine at an Army/Navy surplus store for $50-60 a few years ago.) Unfortunately, we don't always all wear them. Something to work on I guess.


Thanks

 

[shokidq]

Foot Protection:

We all already have steel tip boots that's why I left it out. (I got mine at an Army/Navy surplus store for $50-60 a few years ago.) Unfortunately, we don't always all wear them. Something to work on I guess.


Thanks[/QUOTE]

It amazes me that you all wear standard steal caps & not chainsaw boots, the only time I've caught myself with the saw running was on the foot, & it's been the same with other operators we had work for us although one did cut his hand. the worst case was a guy who cut his foot with standard boots and it run along the back of the steel toe and when he took the boot off he had to shake his toes out and put them in a bag for the hospital.
to work on most sites here now you must have a forestry hat with visor and muffs, kevlar leggings and chainsaw certified boots they also try to get the mits which are a reel pain to work with.

 

[memetic]

"...when he took the boot off he had to shake his toes out and put them in a bag for the hospital."

Thanks, I just threw up in my mouth!

Did the toes sew back on OK, or were they all mangled from the saw and un-sewable? I know a saw cut in wood can look smooth and neat, but I also notice the 5/8" of wood missing after the cut. Well, not missing, but lying in a pile on the ground as saw dust. Does he wear a size 10 and a size 9 now?

Did his saw have a break?

Joking aside, I want to point this out to everyone so you understand where I am coming from, I am not against safety in any way - it's not a joke. I am the most concerned person I know about safety - maybe it is because I have a third degree burn on 1/3 of my thigh that could have been prevented by proper safety (nothing to do with tree work). I just want our crew to be a lot more safe than we are now. Maybe you read some of my other posts and get what I mean. Eventually, I would love to have the finest safety gear from head to toe for all of us, but right now it's just not feasible. This is a major investment and I am approaching it step by step - well kind of, because we are buying head to almost toe gear for everyone.

Helmets for the ground guys are better than baseball caps (yes, it's true).
Safety rated glasses are better than sun glasses (it does happen).
Chaps are way better than my shorts or their work pants (every day now).
Steel toe boots are better than hiking boots (almost every day someone does this, including me a few times).

I don't want anyone to get hurt. And I think it is worth the investment to buy safety gear (it's not about the bare minimum for OSHA). That's why I started this thread. Thanks for all the input.

 

[shokidq]

"...when he took the boot off he had to shake his toes out and put them in a bag for the hospital."

Thanks, I just threw up in my mouth!

Did the toes sew back on OK, or were they all mangled from the saw and un-sewable? I know a saw cut in wood can look smooth and neat, but I also notice the 5/8" of wood missing after the cut. Well, not missing, but lying in a pile on the ground as saw dust. Does he wear a size 10 and a size 9 now?

Did his saw have a break?

it was in the mid 80's If I remember right the toes were no good so I suppose he does wear 2 sizes of boot now, the family had a run of bad luck at the time one of his sons had been out drinking one weekend and was walking down the side of a major road and a lorry mirror knocked the top half of his head off havn't seen them for nearly 20 years now used to piss myself laughing when the got the shearing gear out for the dogs if we had a hot summer.

at that time they tended to do away with the breaks reckoned they were a nuisance, back before health and safety got out of control

 

[Pete M]

Memetic, are you stumping up for all the gear yourself? Reason I ask is that I work for someone, yet am happy to purchase my own PPE for which I get acknowledged in the pay to an extent. I like having my own freedom of choice in what I buy rather than having someone buy it for me. After all, it's Personal Protective Equipment. Would your guys be happy to do this?

 

[memetic]

They won't pony up for the gear themselves all at once, but it basically comes out of their pay over the long haul (and they know and are cool with this and as you read from my earlier post are getting input on what we are getting). If they quit early the equipment becomes someone else's). I'm not going to start being a #### about this and start firing/yelling at people because I am just as guilty. The only difference is I am a partner and have to start making good decisions for EVERYONE.

I totally get your point, but if you read the end of my last post where we're at in terms of safety gear now, you'll understand why we're taking the route we are. And I think it is a good choice vs current practices.

edit: "at that time they tended to do away with the breaks reckoned they were a nuisance, back before health and safety got out of control"

See, that's what I'm talking about. I am knocking on wood right now even though I don't believe in superstition, but I think if the break is not broken or disabled then we should be good with non-saw rated steel toes until we get more money. It's not about arrogance, it's simply a matter of economics at this point. The best gear is coming in due time.