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b) provide suitable karabiners to allow indirect (i.e. via the strop)
and direct attachment (i.e. at the attachment point on the saw)
of saw to the operator’s harness;
c) ensure the saw is securely attached when it is being sent up
to the operator;
d) ensure the saw it secured to the harness before it is discon-
nected from the means of ascent.
Stop the machine when it is attached to the operator.
The saw should only be attached to the recommended attachment
points on the harness. These may be at mid-point (front or rear) or
at the sides.Where possible, attaching the saw to centre rear mid-
point will keep it clear of climbing lines and support its weight cen-
trally down the operator’s spine (Fig. 3).
When moving the saw from any attachment point to another, ope-
rators should ensure it is secured in the new position before relea-
sing it from the previous attachment point.
Using the chain saw in the tree
An analysis of accidents with these saws during tree service ope-
rations shows the primary cause as being inappropriate one-han-
ded use of the saw. In the vast majority of accidents, operators fail
to adopt a secure work position which allows them to hold both
handles of the saw. This results in an increased risk of injury due
to:
- not having a firm grip on the saw if it kicks back;
- a lack of control of the saw such that it is more liable to contact
climbing lines and operators body (particularly the left hand and
arm)
- losing control from insecure work position resulting in contact
with the saw (unexpected movement during operation of the
saw)
Securing the work position for two-handed use
To allow the operator to hold the saw with both hands, the opera-
tor should try to secure a work position where he or she is opera-
ting the saw at:
- hip level when cutting horizontal sections;
- solar plexus level when cutting vertical sections.
Where the operator is working close into vertical stems with a low
lateral force on his/her work position, then good footing may be all
that is needed to maintain a secure work position. However, as
operators move away from the stem, they will need to take steps
to remove or counteract the increasing lateral force by, for exam-
ple, a re-direct of the main line via a supplementary anchor point
or using an adjustable strop direct from the harness to a supple-
mentary anchor point (Fig. 4).
Gaining good footing at the working position can be assisted by
use of a temporary foot stirrup created from an endless sling
(Fig. 5).
Starting the saw in the tree
When starting the saw in the tree, the operator should:
a) apply the chain brake before starting;
b) hold saw on either the left or right of the body when starting:
1) on the left side hold the saw with either the left hand on the
front handle or the right hand on the rear handle and thru-
st the saw away from the body while holding the pull star-
ter cord in the other hand;
2) on the right side, hold the saw with the right hand on either
handle and thrust the saw away from the body while hol-
ding the pull starter cord in the left hand.
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SAFETY RULES
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