Sunday was the first official day of fall and I want to help all of you gardeners out there survive the season without injury. Last week, we discussed safety precautions when using hand pruners and loppers to clean up the garden. To invoke a military analogy, pruners and loppers are like small arms; some gardening jobs require the heavy artillery - the power chainsaw. We talked about PPE to use with these howitzers. Now let's look at the safety rules of operation.

16 Rules for Safe Chainsaw Operation

1. Before you begin, read and understand the manufacturer's instructions. If you don't understand any aspect of the instructions, ask the salesperson where you purchased the equipment to explain it to you.

2. Use PPE. (Refer to last week's piece on what PPE is appropriate.)

3. Do not start cutting trees until you have:

4. Inspect the saw prior to use. Do not operate a chainsaw that is:

Point to Inspect: Be sure that the cutting chain stops moving when the throttle control trigger is released. If in doubt regarding the mechanical condition of your saw, consult your servicing dealer.

5. Follow the manufacturer's sharpening and maintenance instructions. Sharpening a cutting chain is a two-step process:

Step 1: Sharpening of the cutting edge; and
Step 2: Adjusting the depth gauge setting.

Again, when in doubt, ask your servicing dealer for advice or repairs.

6. Maintain proper saw chain tension. A loose chain can come off the guide bar and can strike the operator.

7. When cutting:

8. Chainsaws are designed to run at full speed. Maintain full throttle settings while cutting to maximize your productivity and, for safer operation, to reduce fatigue.

9. It's possible that you may lose control of the saw. So to reduce your risk of injury:

10. When carrying the chainsaw, make sure the engine is stopped, the guide bar and cutting chain are to the rear and the muffler is away from your body. When transporting your chainsaw, always use the appropriate guide bar scabbard.

11. Do not operate a chainsaw while you are in a tree or on a ladder. Don't overreach. Literally. If you can't reach what you want to cut, you might have to bring in the professionals to do the job.

12. Beware of wood closing in and pinching the saw. The "push" force which is exerted when the top chain is pinched can add unexpectedly to any "pull" force you may use when attempting to pull the saw free. You may pull the moving chain into yourself.

13. Use extreme caution when cutting small-size brush and saplings. Slender material may catch the cutting chain and get hurtled toward you or pull you off balance. This is why PPE is so important.

14. When you work with a chainsaw, keep by-standers and animals out of the work area at a safe distance.

15. Keep all parts of your body away from the cutting chain when the engine is running.

16. Use caution when handling fuel:

Conclusion

I have some final points to add about chainsaw safety, as well as some kickback tidbits. But today's article covered a lot of ground, so we'll address those final points next week.

INFOXCHANGE
Question for SafetyXChange Members

By Catherine Jones

A SafetyXChange member recently sent us this note:

"My question has been addressed in previous articles; however, I still encounter difficulties. What is the best way to implement safety improvement programs to ensure long-term success? We have tried many safety initiatives over the years which all begin with promise. Eventually, when focus shifts to other tasks, our new safety programs run out of steam instead of becoming part of our routine. I am a supervisor in a plastics manufacturing facility. I lead the employee safety committee, and we are always looking for ways to improve our approach to workplace safety. Is there any more advice you can give that will help make our safety ventures permanent fixtures instead of failed attempts at change?"

Devin Singh
Production Supervisor
Liquid Container, Plant #10

So we put the question to you, SafetyXChange members: How do you do it? How do you implement a safety improvement that sticks? Do you have any advice to share - a lesson learned, a training technique, a brilliant solution, etc.?

Send your suggestions to catherinej@bongarde.com and let us know if we can use your name/company name.

PRODUCT RECALL
A Million Cribs Recalled

By Catherine Jones

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission and Simplicity Inc., of Reading, PA, has announced the voluntary recall of approximately one million cribs.

The recall was prompted by the deaths of two infants - a nine-month-old child and a six-month-old child - who died as a result of the incorrect installation of the crib's drop-side. They are also investigating the death of a one-year-old child.

The crib has a design flaw that allows the crib's drop-side to be installed upside down, weakening the hardware and causing the drop-side to detach from the crib. According to the CPSC, when the drop-side detaches, a dangerous gap is formed that can lead to the possible entrapment and suffocation of a child.

Parents and caregivers are urged to check Simplicity cribs to ensure that the drop-side is installed correctly. To do this:

If the drop-side is not installed correctly or is not securely attached, do not use the crib! It is unsafe to re-install the drop-side using the same hardware. Instead, consumers should call the Simplicity Recall Hotline at (888) 593.9274 or visit their website at www.simplicityforchildren.com.

The recalled products include both the older style hardware and the newer style hardware. Crib models include:

The recall also includes these Simplicity cribs, using the Graco logo:

To see the original recall, including pictures of the proper and improper drop-side installation, please visit the CPSC website.

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