Glad to hear that you should heal up just fine.
Also glad to hear that it sounds like you know now what went wrong, at first you mentioned you didn't know what happened (that scares me when people say that).
I don't wear protective pants in climbing and I'm glad our government still gives us the choice, so far.
I do understand that no matter how high our skill level is with a saw, that a unique circumstance can happen, resulting in a cut to the leg.
But I feel that most cuts are due to the operator making a mistake, cutting in a dangerous way, or/and especially following through with the saw after the cut.
I think a person should be able to choose to decide if they should wear the pants or not. If they are a risky cutter and they are too dumb to wear the pants, then they can deal with the damage they cause to themselves. Or if you want to wear them just in case..... that's great, wear them. Or if you are a boss or a forman and you feel the climber should use the pants, then you should inforce it because it would impact the companies injured workers insurance (and the industries insurance for that matter).
I don't wear the protective pants in the tree, I do often cut with one hand, I do leave my saw running and the chain brake off. I do climb basically 5 days a week for about 9 to 10 months out of the year. I do own the company.
I use a stihl 020 and 200+ with 14" bars most of the time. 440 and 460 on the blocking off of bigger wood.
I'm sure I will have some good responses from many of you limp wristed, hot pants wearin' fellas on this one. /forum/images/graemlins/crazy.gif I'm being funny here /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif. But seriously, we can debate this.
Now that work is really busy, I don't get on the buzz very often, but I'll try. At least, next weekend. I doubt that we will solve anything or change anyones strong opinion, but...
My suggestion; if you find you are a person that tends to follow through with a cut now and then, then wear as much protective stuff as you can. What I mean is, if you cut a limb and sometimes the saw nicks the next limb, or if you cut on the ground and the saw sometimes goes through and nicks the dirt, or if you cut on the chipper tray and you bump the steel tray, then you are a person that should really be using as much protective stuff as you can, or maybe find another job.
It comes down to saw control and the ability to see what might happen and take action to avoid it.
Me, I feel that saw pants in the tree would cause me to perform less, be overheated, and be irritated and therefor less safe in other ways. I honestly feel that there is no greater risk in me cutting my leg then me cutting my neck or other un-protected body part.
now watch me cut my leg this week.............
I do wear chaps while on the ground. But I do it as a good example, cause I make my guys wear them and I WANT my guys to wear them. They are all good skilled saw users, but I do see mistakes, particularly people following through with a saw or cutting off limbs with the top of the bar near the tip. They don't make mistakes often, but I do see them and I want those chaps on them in case I'm not near them to stop what they are doing.
I myself, kinda hate the chaps. I tend to run in whatever I do. At least 3 times in say these past 3 years, I have fallen hard due to my toe catching in the chap on my next leg. I have never nicked a chap or article of my clothing. Therefor, so far, the chaps have caused me more harm then good. I do like the chaps for the safe image they give, for winter warmth, and for biar protection. If I'm constantly felling and bucking up trees, I would like to have them for safety though, as I may get sloppy.
I also think scars from a saw are not something to brag about. It shows you did something stupid. Unless that is, you got it from stoping the Texas chain-saw massacre guy.
