Out of harm’s way

Professional-grade chainsaws and log splitters enable your crews to quickly churn through jobs, trimming hours or even days off a project. But with that added power comes safety risks, and it’s vital that your entire crew is well-versed on injury prevention.

Personal protective equipment is nothing new to landscape and tree care workers. OSHA guidelines mandate the use of hard hat, eye protection, job-appropriate work gloves, ANSI-approved footwear, respiratory protection as necessary, leg protection (chaps), and hearing protection as necessary. But beyond just enforcing compliance, check for proper use.

“Be sure that chainsaw leg protection fits properly. The protective material should go to the top of the foot,” says Tim Walsh, safety manager at Davey Tree Expert of Kent, Ohio. “Many workers tend to store these items with their saw. If they’re exposed to oil or gas, the fabric can get compromised by petroleum products, and the item (will) no longer work properly.”

Read the full story from the September issue here.