Word of Advice

5 October 2009

Men (or women) in trees

Are those overgrown trees blocking your sun? Wanna get out a chainsaw and hack off the top of them? Wanna lose a lot of blood trying?

Chainsaws can cause some serious damage. Every year ACC gets reports of serious injuries caused by accidents with chainsaws, both by the professionals and home DIY maestros. And it’s a given that your plan is to get rid of the foliage, not a hunk of flesh.

So you need to look at your equipment and your skills before you even think about picking up that saw.

Your chainsaw

The Minister of Consumer Affairs recently banned the import and sale of all chainsaws that don’t have chain brakes. But you might have one of these chainsaws in your shed already.

In fact, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs strongly recommends that you throw these chainsaws out. The risk isn’t worth it. Don’t try to sell it second-hand either, because this has also been banned. When you go to get a new one, double check that the new one has what is called a “chain brake”.

A chain brake looks like a hand guard but it moves forward and clicks to stop the chain instantly when it hits something hard like a knot in the wood and kicks back towards you.

If you find a seller trying to sell you a chainsaw without a chain brake you can gently remind them that they are now illegal, or report them to the Commerce Commission.

Your reading skills

The first job is to read the instruction manual, safety guidance, and the situation. Where and how you intend to use the chainsaw will need planning.

Your kit

Have you got gloves, steel cap boots, safety goggles, protective chaps? (Do you even know what chaps are?) These are safety leggings which will prevent the chain from tearing your leg open. Great idea, so get some – and wear them!

Your tree

Ladders can be precarious at the best of times and holding a chainsaw is not one of those. So never cut above ground level or above shoulder height. If your tree is taller than that then get a trained professional to do it.

Your tree-cutting skills How much practice have you had with a chainsaw? If you’re not sure how to check the conditions and prepare the area, or the correct way of holding and starting a chainsaw, how to prevent or control a kickback, and how to take care of your chainsaw then check out the Department of Labour’s booklet on chainsaw safety.

Give up?

If it’s all sounding a bit too much like hard work, then think about getting in a professional. Get them to do all the hard work while you enjoy your day. It might even work out cheaper in the long run.

Visit here for more information about the chainsaw ban and other product safety issues,