Читать книгу Chainsaw Manual for Homeowners - Brian J. Ruth - Страница 13

I would like to mention right up front that I think there are three danger points when using a chainsaw.

■ Danger No. 1: The Saw.

■ Danger No. 2: The Tree.

■ Danger No. 3: You.

We have already discussed the frequency and seriousness of chainsaw accidents, that in a recent year more than 26,000 chainsaw injuries were treated in hospital emergency rooms, and the fact that it takes 110 stitches to close the typical chainsaw wound. There is no question that the chainsaw is a dangerous tool. However, you might be surprised to learn that although eighty-five percent of injuries come from contact with the moving chain, ninety percent of deaths related to chainsaw accidents are caused by trees or branches falling on the chainsaw operator or on bystanders.

Trees and parts of trees are large, heavy, and unpredictably springy. A large limb weighs several hundred pounds and a tree trunk might weigh several tons. A limb that is bent under the weight of the fallen tree can spring free with deadly force. For this reason it’s important that you learn to tell when a tree is leaning (here), what is a widow-maker (it’s any chunk of tree that might break loose while you’re standing underneath), how to read the tension in a limb, how to plan an escape route (here), and what is the correct sequence to follow when you want to fell a tree (here).

As for you, a casual attitude about chainsaw safety is perhaps your biggest risk. By this I mean you deciding for whatever reason that you can do without your personal protective equipment. You deciding that you are fit enough to hoist a heavy saw all day long, without stopping to rest. You deciding you can continue working even when the daylight has faded into dusk, and even though you’re tired, hot, and thirsty. You deciding that you are immune to the risks, and exempt from safe practices. You forgetting even for a moment that you yourself are responsible for not hurting yourself or anyone else with your chainsaw.

As for me, I find that taking the time to put on my safety gear helps me anchor my attitude in the safety zone and focus on what I’m doing.

A widowmaker is any large, broken limb high up in a tree, so-called because when you start to work on the tree, the limb is liable to bust loose and fall. The wind blew this one down just two days after the first photo was taken. Anyone underneath would have been severely injured, if not killed. More here.

CAUTION

It’s physically demanding to work with a chainsaw, so you need to take breaks often and stop when you are tired. With the physical work of sawing while wearing a full kit of safety gear, heat stress may also become a risk. Drink plenty of liquids, stop to cool down, and plan your work for the coolest part of the day.

Sawing Overhead

It’s very tempting to reach overhead to cut low limbs and branches from the tree trunk. There are two problems. The first problem is, the branch may suddenly break free and fall on you. If you are on a ladder, it will knock you off. The other problem is, the end of the branch may start dropping well before you sever it completely. When the tips of the branches hit the ground, the supple young growth may behave like a spring, propelling the whole limb back toward the tree trunk. And that is where you are standing—or perched up on your ladder. Down you go, with a running chainsaw in your hand. Not good!

To remove low branches, use a hand-powered bow saw. For overhead work, try a pole saw or a long-handled pair of loppers (see Chapter 5, Project 4, here).