Convince Me that a Helmet, with Ear Muffs, Face Screen, and Chaps should be Used.

Bruce Hopf

I seen this similar Posted on AS, before I was Banned from there, and it caught a lot of Attention. I hope to see the Same Results here. Share your Experiences of what has happened or could have Happened to you with or without this Safety Equipment.
I have not always worn Safety Equipment. I was the First one to wear Hearing Protection, when I was 18, in 1984. I started using Chain Saws in 1981.
In 1991, I was doing some Custom Fire Wood Cutting, for a Neighbour, and I was clearing out an Old Lane way, that ran down the Middle of their Farm. I fell 6 Trees, that where in the Lane Way, around 24" in Diameter.
I started Felling them, furthest from the Buildings, because they wanted them all down. I figured get them all fell, because their Son had a Job, and he had this Day off, and I would start with the Cutting of them, once they were all down.
The Last Tree I fell, was hung up into nothing, and didn't want to fall. I had it Wedged pretty good, with 2 Splitting Wedges, and 3 Other Wedges. I had the tree pretty well cut right through, and there wasn't hardly anything left to cut.
I gave him the Chain Saw, and I took the Sledge Hammer, and started to tap the Splitting Wedges in. All of a sudden, that tree took a 1/4 Turn on the Stump, and fell the other way, of to the side, of where I wanted it to go, and landed on top of a Tree, that I had fell earlier.
So I started doing the Limb Work. I just nicely Cut through a Limb, and Wham, I limb from the other Tree came loose, and it was sprung back, from the weight of the other tree. The Limb, came up over the Top of the Bar, and Chain, and hit me square in the Mouth, Snapping 4 of my Upper Front Teeth in half, across each tooth.
$700.00 later, I got my Teeth Fixed. 8 Years ago, after doing a lot of Fire Wood Cutting, here, for my own use, I decided to get myself a Helmet, with Ear Muffs, and a Face Screen. If I would have had this equipment, I'd probably would have my Teeth, but that is hard to say.
7 Years ago, I Injured my Lower Back, at work, and the Past few years, for some odd reason, my Left Knee gives out on me, and I almost loose my Balance and fall.
One Day, this past Fall, I was skidding tree Tops out of our Bush, that I sold to my Cousin with mt Tractor, I stopped at the edge of the Field to do the Limbing.
I nicely just finished cutting a Limb, and My Left Knee gave out, and my Knee almost struck the Spinning Chain. That was the end of not having, or Wearing Chain Saw Chaps.
The Next Day, I went to my Dealer, and Got a Pair On Sale, and I won't grab and use a Chain Saw without any of this equipment, any more.
It was pretty expensive for me to buy, because I had to buy three complete sets. of Helmets, and Chaps. One set for My Step Son, and Best Friend who helps me with the Cutting, but I'd rather have Everyone Safe, than Sorry. Thanks. Bruce.

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McCulloch chain saws
1- Pro Mac 60, 1- Pro Mac 700, 2- Mac 10-10 Automatic's, 2- Mini Mac 30's, 2- Mac 110's,
2- Mini Mac 35's, 1- Mac 140 with Automatic Chain Sharpener,
1- Pro Mac 10-10, 1- Mac Cat, 2- Eager Beaver
2.0's, 1- Mac 1-10
Stihl chain saws
2- 044's, 2- 034's, 2- 024's, 1- 064, 1- 084,
Strunk chain saws
1- Busy Beaver, 1- SpeeDemon Special
Stand Back, I Have A Very Extreme Case of CAD (Chain Saw Addiction Disorder).

TreeCo

The order of importance in the prevention of injuries:


Brain 99.44%


PPE: .56%

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Grow more vegetables!

Done it

Things people have said to me who don't wear hearing protection:

What?

WHAT?

Gees, you talk soft.

Earmuffs? no I can't hear with them on.

Eric Frei

LOL

Steel capped boots are very important I can tell you.

I feel naked without my PPE.

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Therrin

I know the importance of wearing it, for myself, after a couple mishaps on the training curve.

However, I KNOW for a fact, that these days if I dont wear all my PPE, the county worksafe people will show up and tag me for it.

AND, my insurance requires it.


So it doesnt really matter what I think

newguy18

I have the hard hat setup,i'm gonna pick up another one plus chaps for a groundie.I can't afford to get hit in the head again.I'll even buy chaps for ground level work.

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old schooler

Eric Frei

LOL, yeah, once at birth is enough.

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treevet

Hey Bruce, Explain to me how that gear would keep you from taking that shot in the chops and breaking those teeth?

Bruce Hopf

Wouldn't the Face Screen distribute more of the Blow, over the Face, than in one place. That was my way of thinking. I could be wrong. Bruce.

__________________
McCulloch chain saws
1- Pro Mac 60, 1- Pro Mac 700, 2- Mac 10-10 Automatic's, 2- Mini Mac 30's, 2- Mac 110's,
2- Mini Mac 35's, 1- Mac 140 with Automatic Chain Sharpener,
1- Pro Mac 10-10, 1- Mac Cat, 2- Eager Beaver
2.0's, 1- Mac 1-10
Stihl chain saws
2- 044's, 2- 034's, 2- 024's, 1- 064, 1- 084,
Strunk chain saws
1- Busy Beaver, 1- SpeeDemon Special
Stand Back, I Have A Very Extreme Case of CAD (Chain Saw Addiction Disorder).

Garry Brockley

The face shield does spread the load a small amount, i took a similar hit in my first year in a very similar way, the bottom of the face shield pushed my bottom teeth through 1 inch below my bottom lip claret everywhere, it was a cleaner cut than the branch would have left.
ithink the face shield gives you a millisecond more to move and keeps the small stuff from injuring you.

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Therrin

Speaking from experience Ekka?



My mom actually dropped me when I wasn't too old. Figures doesnt it?

newguy18

I seem to recall being hit on the head more than once.

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old schooler

newguy18

Oh to answer the original question,even i have to wear one,if i do everyone does,nuff said.

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old schooler

Steve Tipton

[QUOTE=newguy18;50344]I can't afford to get hit in the head again.

I'll buy that!

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Heightmaster