Chainsaw Safety

Chainsaw safety is every saw operator’s job.
Always wear proper personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling or working around chainsaws.
- Eye protection – approved goggles or safety glasses.
- Hearing protection – earplugs or muffs.
- Helmet.
- Chainsaw Chaps – proper size and length.
- Gloves – proper size.
- Long sleeve shirt – no loose sleeves.
- Leather boots – no loose boot laces.
Take the time to inspect the chainsaw before operating the saw.
- Check the chain and bar – sharpness of chain, bar seated correctly.
- Check the bolts and screws all around the saw – no missing screws or bolts.
- Check the casing of the saw – no cracked or missing plastic.
- Felling axe and wedges in good condition.
- Saw gas and bar oil in sufficient quantities to meet objectives.
- Basic saw maintenance tools on site and specific to saw in use.
- Review fuel geysering indicators/potential.
Make sure you’re aware of your surroundings while operating the chainsaw.
- Look for and anticipate people working in your area – the chainsaw operator is responsible for controlling the cutting area and communicating with others in the cutting area.
- Look for any snags or overhead hazards in your area – maintain recommended spacing of falling teams or others working in the cutting area.
- Establish consistent communications with spotters/swampers – always minimize personnel working directly at the stump or in the felling area.
- Are there other risk factors that increase the complexity of the job – loose soils, rocky ground, steep terrain, weather factors or poor visibility, tree condition, others?
Complete a personal Risk Assessment to determine if you are comfortable completing the task at hand – don’t let job performance pressure force you in over your skill level.
- Proper training and certification level for personnel running saws and assisting with saw operations.
- Describe your medical response plan and how it is implemented, including extricating a severe injury at the worksite.
- If you are not comfortable falling the tree, walk away. Notify your supervisor and mitigate the safety issues or turn down the assignment.
- 10 & 18 Poster, PMS 110-18
- 10 Standard Firefighting Orders, PMS 110
- 18 Watch Out Situations, PMS 118
- Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations (Red Book)
- NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461
- NWCG Standards for Helicopter Operations, PMS 510
- RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR)
- Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center
Have an idea or feedback?
Share it with the NWCG 6MFS Subcommittee.