Chainsaw protective clothing is as essential as a well-serviced machine. Most parts of the chainsaw can be easily replaced and are readily available over the shelf. Fingers, toes and limbs are a little trickier to replace and mend.

Everyone who has worked a chainsaw will appreciate the dangers involved. At the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) stand at the National Ploughing Championships, Val O’Connor gave a detailed demonstration on the safe operation of a chainsaw. Val said the noise generated in use comes to 400 times the decibel limit recommended in the workplace.

Andy Walsh, a service manager with Husqvarna said: “A chainsaw was once described to me as a fantastic servant but a terrible master and this is evident when you see the amount of severe damage that chainsaws do to operators who do not use them correctly or to those who do not protect themselves adequately when cutting.

“I have seen some horrific accidents in my 35 years in this industry and it makes no sense to me that someone would not provide themselves with all the protection that is available while using a tool that is revolving at approximately 21m per second.”

The basic personal protection that should be worn by a chainsaw operator is a helmet with visor and earmuffs. This is essential as the nature of trees is that they are normally over our heads and branches can fall and cause severe damage or death. A visor will protect your eyes from flying debris and earmuffs will protect your hearing as a chainsaw will produce as much noise pressure on your eardrums as some jet engines.

Next you will need a pair of chainsaw gloves with saw protection which will protect your hands should they come in contact with a moving chain. You will need a pair of chainsaw trousers to protect your legs when cutting as they are the part of the body that can be most damaged when using a chainsaw. It is essential that the trousers you buy give the protection against the type of saw you use. There are four classes in protection to cope with various chain speeds at which chainsaws operate.

Items that resist cutting at 16m/s are classified as Class 0, which is the typical level selected for hand protectors, gloves, upper body protectors and gaiters. It is generally the case that to obtain higher performance levels, for upper body protectors for example, so many layers of protective material are required that the garment becomes too uncomfortable for continuous wear.

For leg protectors, the lowest allowable level of protection is class 1, which resists cutting at up to 20 metres per second chain speed. Protective products of class 2 or class 3 are tested at a chain speed of 24 metres per second and 28 metres per second respectively. Finally, a pair of chainsaw protection boots is a must to protect you from cuts to your feet. All of the safety items are made of technically designed materials to provide you with the protection you require.

So finally one might ask the question – how much is all this safety protective clothing going to cost me? Andy Walsh again gave a breakdown of the costs from Husqvarna for a range of items. Please note that all the prices listed below are inclusive of VAT:

It is also worth considering that there are a number of centres throughout the country offering specialised chainsaw operation courses. KTC Training (www.ktcsafety.ie) offers training courses which are City and Guild accredited for both novice and advanced users. Farm Relief Services also delivers courses – you can contact your local office to find out when they are running.

Remember to look after yourself and your chainsaw this season. Good luck with your cutting and stay safe.