Wear those chaps people

[Hermio]

I feel like I should be seriously looking at some chaps... I'm probably a little over-confident after years of not having an accident. Maybe Santa will leave a pair under the tree...

I'm 6'1", I wonder if I got the Echo Full wraps would I want the 36" or 40"?

I think one thing that puts people off about chaps is their cost. Cheapies go for close to $100, but the good ones may be several hundred dollars. I bought intermediate grade from LaBonville. That scares me a little, as I use an MS500i, which is a rather powerful saw.

 

[MrTreeGuy]

Numbers are not the correct comparison. Percentages are. There are more people building fires than using chainsaws. The logging profession is the second most dangerous profession, after North Sea fisherman. It actually used to be the most dangerous. In the 1980s, the statistic was that 5% of loggers would not survive their career. It has gotten better, and I don't know all the reasons why. Better training may be one. But I imagine the use of chaps has contributed to safety.

The number of fire accidents decrease because people have been able to tame it over time. They have a better understanding of fire safety than past generations. That leads to less fatalities and injuries by fire.
If you understand how to work a saw safely, how to buck, and be able to see most potential hazards, you don't need certain safety gears.

 

[Hermio]

The number of fire accidents decrease because people have been able to tame it over time. They have a better understanding of fire safety than past generations. That leads to less fatalities and injuries by fire.
If you understand how to work a saw safely, how to buck, and be able to see most potential hazards, you don't need certain safety gears.

That is a fallacy. Experienced people can still make mistakes in a moment of inattention, especially when tired. Just as great drivers have accidents, so do experienced loggers.

 

[MrTreeGuy]

everything has its risk. But by taking precautions, you keep that risk small. Small enough to where you dont even need to spend the money on chaps and have your movement somewhat restricted and the hassle of putting them on.

 

[MacAttack]

I think one thing that puts people off about chaps is their cost. Cheapies go for close to $100, but the good ones may be several hundred dollars. I bought intermediate grade from LaBonville. That scares me a little, as I use an MS500i, which is a rather powerful saw.

I was looking at the LaBonville, they have layers of Kevlar and seem priced pretty reasonably.

 

[moxiemaul]

I feel like I should be seriously looking at some chaps... I'm probably a little over-confident after years of not having an accident. Maybe Santa will leave a pair under the tree...

I'm 6'1", I wonder if I got the Echo Full wraps would I want the 36" or 40"?

I'm 6', 36" labonville chaps fit me well, lots of room to adjust the straps. Going to use mine wednesday I think.. have some hideous bramble/deadfall stuff to move along, so will be wading in with the long bar.

 

[Philbert]

everything has its risk. But by taking precautions, you keep that risk small. Small enough to where you dont even need to spend the money on chaps and have your movement somewhat restricted and the hassle of putting them on.

Nobody plans on getting hurt: that’s why they call it ‘an accident’.

Working in safety for almost 40 years, we call them ‘incidents’.

From a bigger picture perspective they are often highly predictable, even if not a frequent occurrence.

And things like knowledge, skill, experience, (and ego), only get you so far when something unexpected happens.

Philbert

 

[MacAttack]

I'm 6', 36" labonville chaps fit me well, lots of room to adjust the straps. Going to use mine wednesday I think.. have some hideous bramble/deadfall stuff to move along, so will be wading in with the long bar.

Thanks!

 

[MrTreeGuy]

Nobody plans on getting hurt: that’s why they call it ‘an accident’.

Working in safety for almost 40 years, we call them ‘incidents’.

From a bigger picture perspective they are often highly predictable, even if not a frequent occurrence.

And things like knowledge, skill, experience, (and ego), only get you so far when something unexpected happens.

Philbert

True but wearing chaps doesnt come without negatives. You'll have to weigh those negatives with that small risk if youre being careful.

people take the risk of dying everyday when they drive. The opposite of that is never leaving your house because youre afraid of that small risk becoming reality.

 

[wildwes]

everything has its risk. But by taking precautions, you keep that risk small. Small enough to where you dont even need to spend the money on chaps and have your movement somewhat restricted and the hassle of putting them on.

Wearing chaps IS a precaution...

 

[MrTreeGuy]

Wearing chaps IS a precaution...

its one precaution of many. Too many precautions is bad

 

[wildwes]

its one precaution of many. Too many precautions is bad

Precautions that make it impossible to do a job might be bad. Properly fitted, good quality chaps aren't one of those. If you don't want to wear chaps, fine. I usually don't, I am taking a risk that I am aware of.
That said, trying to argue that chaps are somehow bad or that they aren't a good precaution, is purely idiotic.

 

[MrTreeGuy]

Precautions that make it impossible to do a job might be bad. Properly fitted, good quality chaps aren't one of those. If you don't want to wear chaps, fine. I usually don't, I am taking a risk that I am aware of.
That said, trying to argue that chaps are somehow bad or that they aren't a good precaution, is purely idiotic.

That was my argument. I'm choosing not to wear chaps but under very careful conditions. You dont exactly need chaps to work safely