Like everyone else, we're inclined to neglect safety issues from time to time. We remind each other when we notice such things. Put on your ear muffs! Put on the chain break! Why is it we never have to be told to put on our boots or our gloves? I can't begin to tell you how many woodworkers came into our store with missing fingers. After speaking to them about safety, it became obvious the first problem was working when tired or in a hurry. Directly following that was either doing an unsafe thing with a piece of equipment or not using safety equipment! We all want to think that those missing fingers are always going to be "the other guy" and not us. The truth is, Paul came really close...close enough to have to get stitched up! And, the funny thing is (or not so funny however you look at it) the saw was turned off! The still revolving blade caught a bit of glove and pulled his finger into the blade! It happens that easily! SAFETY BOOTS: Paul loves his metatarsals...nope, those are not dinosaurs (his feet are big enough to be called dinosaurs) they are boots with a built-in safety plate that protects the entire top of your foot. Paul's are made by Wolverine and are called Metguard. He prefers this style to the external plate. When working in brush, it is easy to get small sticks between the plate and the top of the boot! HELMET (PREFERABLY WITH FACE & EAR PROTECTION): Now, if you don't wear a helmet, you have got rocks in your head or will wish you did if a branch falls on you! They now come with drop-down screens and ear muffs! EYE PROTECTION: I find safety goggles work best plus I can use them when riding my Harley! On a windy day, they'll save you a lot of misery! Panoptx is a sports eye wear company that can take your eyeglass prescription and fix you up with wrap-around eye wear with foam that fits right up to your face. They are fantastic! (And, I can ride my Harley with my eyes wide open!) |
See These? I've still got all
ten of my fingers! Safety is
issue number1 ! ALWAYS!
ten of my fingers! Safety is
issue number1 ! ALWAYS!
Why Chaps? Because we all
do this without using the
chain break! Because we
are all in a hurry!
do this without using the
chain break! Because we
are all in a hurry!
Safety First! Always!
Paul Easley - Niche Sawyer
Why ear muffs? Huh? What
did you say? Huh?
did you say? Huh?
EAR PROTECTION: Good ear protection is a must! It will reduce the amount of
times you have to say, "Huh?" (Did you know the average husband says
10,000 words a day and his wife will say 20,000 - because she always has to
repeat everything she says!)
times you have to say, "Huh?" (Did you know the average husband says
10,000 words a day and his wife will say 20,000 - because she always has to
repeat everything she says!)
NEW SAFETY EQUIPMENT I REALLY LIKE: There are several items I really like,
the first being the added chain break trigger on the fuel handle which is on
some new Stihl saws. Take your hand off the trigger and the break is set!
Pretty Cool! Also Stihl has new hearing protectors with AM/FM radio which
makes the day a little nicer. They provide a 25-decibel reduction of noise.
While they can't be used during timber work (remember your hard hat) there
are a lot of other noise-producing jobs where these provide entertainment and
relieve the boredom. I wore them and entire day while planing wood and really
enjoyed it. (Kathy, on the other hand, gets to dancing around and forgets what
she is doing!)
the first being the added chain break trigger on the fuel handle which is on
some new Stihl saws. Take your hand off the trigger and the break is set!
Pretty Cool! Also Stihl has new hearing protectors with AM/FM radio which
makes the day a little nicer. They provide a 25-decibel reduction of noise.
While they can't be used during timber work (remember your hard hat) there
are a lot of other noise-producing jobs where these provide entertainment and
relieve the boredom. I wore them and entire day while planing wood and really
enjoyed it. (Kathy, on the other hand, gets to dancing around and forgets what
she is doing!)
BEGIN YOUR SAFETY BY SAFETY CHECKING YOUR EQUIPMENT: That safety check should include a bit more than
filling up the gas and oil in your chainsaw. Get a fresh start and keep it that way! Take it apart and clean it.
Check the bar, chain and sprocket for wear. Clean the air filter. Check the tightness of all nuts, bolts and
screws. Check the chain break and the engine idle to make sure it isn't pulling the chain at idle.
ACCIDENT: An event that occurs unexpectedly and unintentionally. Of course no one plans to get hurt or killed,
but it happens because of no plan. Accidents are investigated and studied to learn how to avoid them in the
future. The trick is to constantly remind yourself to plan.
CAN THEY SEE YOU? Wear as much bright color as possible. You will notice in the photos our chaps are
orange. The old ones were green. We don't wear them any more. We even had a green chainsaw once. It got
ran over by a tractor. Don't get run over!
filling up the gas and oil in your chainsaw. Get a fresh start and keep it that way! Take it apart and clean it.
Check the bar, chain and sprocket for wear. Clean the air filter. Check the tightness of all nuts, bolts and
screws. Check the chain break and the engine idle to make sure it isn't pulling the chain at idle.
ACCIDENT: An event that occurs unexpectedly and unintentionally. Of course no one plans to get hurt or killed,
but it happens because of no plan. Accidents are investigated and studied to learn how to avoid them in the
future. The trick is to constantly remind yourself to plan.
CAN THEY SEE YOU? Wear as much bright color as possible. You will notice in the photos our chaps are
orange. The old ones were green. We don't wear them any more. We even had a green chainsaw once. It got
ran over by a tractor. Don't get run over!
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |