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Chainsaw Operator Qualification for BCWA Volunteers

Wetlands volunteers must be “qualified” to operate chainsaws due to BCWA’s highest concern for safety. This qualification process ensures operator competency and minimizes risks to personnel, visitors, and property.

Prior to volunteering as a chainsaw operator with BCWA, please do the following:


While working in the wetlands, persons must demonstrate the basic skills of starting, stopping and cutting techniques. 

 

BCWA Chainsaw Safety Rules

Safety

The following apply to BCWA volunteers who are BCWA chainsaw qualified.  All other BCWA volunteer personnel are NOT permitted to use chainsaws in the course of their volunteer work.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

The following Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be worn at all times during chainsaw operation:

  • High visibility hard-hat.
  • Safety glasses with safety shields or a face screen.
  • Hearing protection.
  • Sturdy clothes- no loose fit clothing that might become saw entangled.
  • Sturdy footwear with non-slip soles
  • Chainsaw Safety Chaps
Safety Procedures

The procedures below are unlikely to cover every circumstance that a volunteer may encounter.  There is no substitute for good judgment regarding what actions can be performed safely.  DO NOT take on any job or even a single cut which you cannot perform safely.  Remember this statistic: 95% of the injuries involving chainsaws are preventable!

General:
  1. Based on the work to be done and potential hazards, the volunteer should secure the area and keep visitors a safe distance from any work. A  safety person must be present to advise visitors of the volunteer activity.
  2. DO NOT work when you are fatigued.
  3. NEVER WORK ALONE! A minimum of two people must be present.  One is a safety watch for the chainsaw operator and for passing visitors (if applicable).  The chainsaw operator must be within yelling distance of help and the safety watch must have a working cell phone for summoning emergency help. Prior to starting the cutting work, the chainsaw operator and safety watch must discuss their injury response plan:
    • Identify the vehicle to be driven to the hospital/ urgent care and where the keys are.
    • Identify the nearest Urgent Care facility.
    • Identify the person(s) with cell phone(s) who will place emergency call.
    • Identify the location of the first aid kit.
  4. Have a first aid kit on site.
  5. Inspect the saw before use. Ensure both the inertia and manual activation of the chain brake are in proper working condition.  Inspect the chain catch for damage and have it repaired as necessary.  Also, test the throttle lock-out feature for proper operation.  Inspect the bar and chain and repair or replace as necessary.  While wearing gloves, work the chain back and forth on the bar to test for proper tensioning and correct installation.
  6. Inspect the saw after use as well for loose parts or damage from operations.
  7. Safe Starting: Do not drop-start the chainsaw.  A chain saw is safest to start on the ground with the chain brake engaged.  Easy Start saws may use leg-trap method for starting. Be sure nothing is obstructing the guide bar/chain.  To make sure the saw sits securely on the ground, place your right foot in the rear handles.
  8. Carefully “size up” each cut. Anticipate how the wood will move/react to your cut.  If you’re unsure of the wood’s reaction, make shallow cuts pausing to watch the piece react and identify the direction it wants to go.
  9. Tuck in drawstrings that are on hooded jackets or long hair that dangles down. Remove rings and jewelry.  Remove objects from pockets that might fall out while cutting.
  10. Don’t let anyone hold the log or limb being cut. Work at a safe distance from others.
  11. ALWAYS maintain control by standing securely holding the saw firmly and taking your hand off the trigger between cuts.
  12. NEVER straddle the log to make a cut.
  13. Whenever you are cutting, be sure your body is clear of the natural path the saw will follow when the cut goes through.
  14. ALWAYS shut off the engine before setting the chain saw down – even when you are retreating from a falling tree
  15. The chain saw must be shut down or the chain break activated whenever the saw is carried more than a few steps. Whenever possible use a bar cover.  A saw should be carried by its front handle with the chain bar pointing to the rear.  Do not carry the chain saw on your shoulder.
  16. Cut with the lower part of the saw blade-not with the tip or nose.
  17. Maintain a high saw speed when entering, cutting and leaving the wood cut.
  18. To avoid pinching, rotate limb or log to be cut or insert a short log under the cut area. If the saw becomes pinched, shut it off and insert log under it to eliminate the pinching.
  19. Keep the chain sharp. Fine saw dust, smoke or slow cutting indicate a dull chain. Chains can be sharpened by hand with proper file and guide or taken to service dealer for machine sharpening.
  20. Avoid fence, metal, rocks and dirt. Momentary contact with any of these items can dull chain and increase risk of kickback.
  21. DO NOT cut above mid-chest height — the saw is too close to your face.
Refueling:
  1. NEVER fuel a saw while the engine is running.
  2. NEVER fuel a hot saw.
  3. NEVER smoke or have any type of flame while you are around a saw or during fueling.
  4. NEVER start the saw where you fueled the engine. Move at least 10 feet away.
  5. Keep leaves and dry materials away from the hot muffler.
Limbing
  1. Stand on the opposite side of the tree whenever possible, using it as a barrier between yourself and the limb you are cutting. Do not overstretch yourself to do this because you are less stable. When cutting bushes remove material above waist high before cutting off at ground level to avoid having bush fall on operator.
  2. Do not face the limb you are cutting squarely — stand at a 45-degree angle to prevent the saw from striking your leg if it slips.
  3. If you are on a hill, stand on the upside of the hill.
  4. NEVER cut limbs above mid-chest height.
  5. Do not cut limbs that are supporting the log.
Reducing the risk of Kickback.

This occurs when a force causes the bar to “kick” up and back towards the operator and may result in a loss of control and possible injury.  There are several causes:

  • an abrupt change in wood character — hitting a knot or a nail or fence
  • cutting with the upper tip of the bar
  • striking a nearby limb with the tip of the moving chain while cutting
  • running the chain too slowly
  • twisting the saw in your cut so the chain grabs
  • using a dull or loose chain
  • having a loose grip on the saw or cutting with only one hand
  • not paying attention

Reduce the kickback risk by:
  1. Never cut with the upper half of the tip of the bar
  2. Always hold the saw firmly with both hands and keep the left arm as straight and stable as possible
  3. Use a saw equipped with a chain brake, anti-kickback chain, or other Anti-kickback devices.
Volunteer Limitations.

Unless you have received additional thorough training from a qualified training agency, BCWA chainsaw-certified volunteers are prohibited from the following:

  1. Do not cut in non-BCWA areas without prior notification of the local jurisdiction
  2. Do not try to work beyond your abilities.
  3. Do not work from a ladder or from within a tree.
  4. Do not do boring cuts because it is very risky unless you are trained for the job.
  5. Do not attempt to remove complex tree falls.
  6. Do not cut near power lines.
  7. Do not cut where falls can land on non-managed property.