handsaws are sharp!

ratherbclimbing

ratherbclimbing

Location
Knoxville TN
First I have to start by saying I've got a nice scar on the top of my left wrist due to a handsaw accident(operator error). I was pruning a large hickory last year and I had my left hand out on the branch I was cutting and I guess I was using it for support. As I cut through the small branch I let it swing to toss it and I slipped forward....slash..and clean to the bone. Little peroxide and some super glue...and a reminder I see everyday.

So yesterday I'm teaching a guy I work with to climb who is an excellent ground guy. I've made him tie a blakes hitch til he was blue in the face and have drilled his head about two hands on the saw at all times. Anyways all we do are takedowns; topping trees so we have clearance to drop and miss the powerlines. I let him use my handsaw(silky sugoi 360) so he didn't have to unclip his laynard on the way up. This was his 10th tree I guess a rather small poplar. I told him that handsaw was really sharp. Well he cut a couple suckers out of his way and the 4th one was a little larger he put his hand on it so he could throw it away. I saw it happen and it was fast not one but two strokes over the knuckle of his thumb. The forward stroke and back! As I seen him do it I didn't even get a chance to say he sshouldnt put his hand there. He got six stiches and the doctor told him he was lucky it was over the knuckle. He chipped the bone a lil but will be fine.
I wish we had more time for me to train him but we are being pushed for production. And I know I may get a little criticism for this so this was going to be his first time taking a really small top. The only thing he did for the first trees was spike up after I set a line and made sure he was double tied in at all times. Now he is comfortable tying in and spiking. This is not the ideal setting to teach but my boss is riding me to teach him! He stayed home today and me and my boss had a sit down and reviewed the accident and went over how it could have been prevented. I explained that we needed more time to practice and not be rushed. As teaching him requires us to slow down production I end up having to step up at the end of the day and move fast. My boss listened and said he agreed and apologized for rushing us.
Now I feel bad because this should not have happened. Any advice about training him properly would be greatly appreciated. I have thick skin so don't hold back(not that many people on here do). I already gave him my copy of the Tree Climbers Companion.
Remember those saws are sharp!
 
Never put your body parts in the plane of the saw, be it the kickback zone of a chainsaw, or the follow through of a handsaw. I REALLY slow down the saw when I'm forced to hold a piece and cut towards my arm/knee/shin/hand/thigh, you name it.

My favorite used to be finishing a cut vigorously and then proceeding to slap the teeth of the saw right straight down into your knee cap. Growing pains I guess, knock on wood havent done it in awhile.
 
Try to make good snap cuts, rather than just cutting down from the top of the limb, and learn positioning so that your arms never have to cross when holding a branch and cutting with a hand saw. Loop runners can make great footholds when not wearing spurs. The saw SHALL BE sharp...let it do the work so it doesn't jump out of the cut at the final pass.
 
Another word of advice, when cutting small maple limbs in the springtime, and they tear and rip open, dont put your fingers inside the tear before you finish the cut, the wood WILL close on your fingers.

Not that thats ever happened to me. Ok, maybe it has.
 
Two strokes with a handsaw on his own flesh?

He's a bit slow on the uptake, IMO. Better watch him close or he'll be cutting his lanyard next.
 
My handsaw took a strand out of my climbing line the other day. Didnt take much just the last two teeth on the saw. I can't imagine taking two strokes out of my hand. Let your guy know to take it slow. He's at the point in his career that can make huge progress and be a safe climber if he can get the fundimentals down.
 
Was he wearing gloves? Do you? They aren't required PPE, but I strongly recommend them, as they have lessened the pain of many nicks personally.

If you aren't wearing them now, you could be used to them within a month. There are tons of different options out there these days - from cut-resistant to the leather ones you'll see old-timers wearing.

I prefer the Atlas style gloves with rubber on the palm. The knit won't stop a handsaw, but will significantly reduce the potential injury if/when you slip up. No amount of training can prevent a handsaw injury eventually. Everyone has to do it a few times before they learn where NOT to put their hands.

That's why I strongly recommend gloves to trainees, get them started on good habits. Even a mundane activity like tensioning the chain on the saw is dangerous work without them.
 
Rather B-

Tcia has a great series to train guys. I think is called the tree care academy they have different modules that you can use to train. They have a tree climber module. I strongly recommend that you get him to read through that. In the back is a testing section. It really covers alot of material. For your bosses point of view once he passes that test which includes practical skills and a base level of ability if something happens you have documentation that he has gone through a formalized training program. As a owner it helps me sleep a little better. My other thought was this accident can be spun as a good thing. Now he will move forward in his training probably slower and more carefully and early in his training he will understand the seriousness of the job hes learning. Mistakes and accidents happen. The key is to learn and move forward with good habits. Imo you cant be careful enough. My other thought is that i would be very watchful of him. There comes a point where you have to make a determination if the guy is going to be a liability. Good luck!
 
I wear gloves occasionally but prefer not to...feel like they slow me down. I'm 5'7" and 150lbs so I've got smaller hands..I feel like the guy in the hardees commercial. Seriously tho I like the atlas glove and for dragging brush good mechanics gloves. I will look int5o the tcia modules thanks!
 
It sounds like the lesson was learned; don't rush training.

I like to keep these word in order; Safety, Quality, & Performance. I have a feeling many companies put performance in the front.
 
I have some good puncture wounds. One time it was quite a bleeder. I think I have learned...
bangtard.gif
 
I heard though the grapevine a while back about a small handsaw injury that turned out really bad. just a small smack by the underside of the wrist and it cut a tendon that popped back into his elbow. Two very small teeth sized holes, one just got right where it needed to be to cause serious damage. They had to cut from the wrist back to the elbow to re-string the tendon. It really makes you think twice about a handsaw.
 
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