Safe Use Of Top Handled Chainsaws

[Stumper]

Respect all your saws. A razortoothed pruning saw is dangerous to the careless. On the other hand don't be terrified by your tools. Learn them. Know them. Know their capabilities. Know your capabilities.
IMHO if top handled saws were elminated we would see an increase in injuries-Climbers are going to try to make cuts that they can reach at times rather than attempting a difficult repositioning. If the saw is more difficult to control one handed ( and rear handled saws are) them there will be an increase in cases of it getting out of control.
P.S. Riggs, I like the 019T.

 

[Nate]

One handed cut and toss is a great technique to have in your "tool box". It all depends on how comfortable you are with doing this. If you are not good at it, can not control your saw, don't do it. Be smart about it and never, ever confuse comfort with complacency.

But if you want to rig and lower every 0.5 kilo stub, that is your biz.

Buena suerta and STAY SAFE

 

[pugsly]

I think my only comment from the last posting would be that the author comments on how good the cut and toss technique is to have in your "tool box" - ok maybe? But then to say if you are not good at it don't bother? Do we advocate the use of top handled chainsaws onehanded? - I only raise this issue for those new to our industry, should they therefore have a go at this method? No criticism to anyone who takes the time to post on this site, and the input that arborists give throughout the world is immense, i think it is important to remember that there are arborists with varying practical arboricultural skill levels possibly viewing this site.

 

[Ghivelder]

But safety is safety regardless of skill levels. It's kind of a state of mind...
The more skill I have, the easier it will be to work in an even safer way and not the other way around.

Sergio

 

[Nate]

I must agree that experience should serve to make you safer not the other way around.

To a certain extent, it is just not safe to be in a tree an extra 6 hours because you are lowering every twig.

I am NOT saying that safety should be sacrificed for time.

This work in general is a mixture of art and science. Broadcast prescriptions like "Always...." don't really have a place.

If it matters, I was obsessive today with thinking how many hands were on my saw at exery cut. I found a lot of places where I was simply cutting one handed due to laziness.

 

[acer]

I think the choice is wider than one handed use with chainsaw vs. rigging every piece. If you can comfortably hold the weight of a branch with one hand, then its a candidate for use of the handsaw. This technique can be quicker than using a saw eg. when cables run through branches.

There's always an extra risk when using a top handled saw one handed. I heard talk of a few recent accidents where climbers have had their throats cut, with plenty of other wounds to show the path the chain took kicking back..and these blokes were not newbies either (fortunately, they survived). If work speed is so important that one handed use of power saws is the only way, then there's something wrong with the business plan.