Chainsaw Safety Tips for Homeowners and Pros

chainsaw safety tips

We wrote this article as a helpful guide fro everyone. Chainsaw safety affects everyone from those beginning their career in the green industry to people with decades of experience. So whether you’re just starting out or you work on a logging crew, chainsaw safety matters. We put together a set of chainsaw safety tips to cover the basics and then some.

While we can’t hit every possible scenario, we do hope this article either jumpstarts you on your way or helps you reinvigorate some processes to ensure you operate a chainsaw in a safe manner. As a tool, a chainsaw should be respected. Do that, and you’ll have years of satisfying and productive work ahead of you.

Editor’s Note: Check out our chainsaw basics article for more tips and don’t miss our best professional chainsaw article to get our top picks.

Preparation is Key

As with everything in life, preparation is important. While it’s always good to work with a partner, we recognize that’s not always possible. With that in mind, part of chainsaw safety involves making sure someone at least knows where you plan to work for the day. In the event of an emergency, you don’t want any delays. These days, everyone seems fairly well connected, so we’re far better off than when the nearest phone was miles away.

Know Your Equipment

Your chainsaw has several key features that keep you safe. Know them and you already have a leg up on key chainsaw safety tips.

A kickback guard and chain brake stops the chain in the event of a kickback. Kickback occurs when the saw bucks up suddenly toward your face. Nothing causes more immediate fear when using these tools.

These devices won’t work properly if you use the saw left-handed…so don’t. The chain catcher is a piece of metal at the base of the chain bar. It is designed to catch the chain in the event it breaks or derails from the chain bar. Additionally, the flat part of the handle extending underneath your right hand is there to further prevent injury in the event of a chain break.

One of our favorite chainsaw safety tips includes the chain brake

Have the Proper Equipment

Never use a chainsaw in flip-flops and shorts (you know who you are!) Proper equipment is essential to working safely with a chainsaw. Proper equipment includes a helmet, ear protection, and safety glasses.

You should also protect your legs with specially-made chaps. These chainsaw chaps are actually quite amazing. They protect by releasing thousands of tiny “threads” when cut. This immediately gums up the chain when it comes into contact with the chaps and stops it from spinning. It is the analog equivalent to a SawStop table saw for chainsaws.

STIHL Chainsaw Protective Chaps - chainsaw safety tips

Finally, make sure you have good gloves and slip-resistant boots. You can suffer a major injury if your hands or feet slip while using a chainsaw. We experience this often when dealing with storm cleanup after a hurricane or tropical storm.

Some of the easiest chainsaw safety tips simply involve wearing the proper gear.

Chainsaw Safety Tips When Felling Trees

We cannot possibly include a full lesson on the chainsaw safety involved in felling trees, but you can keep a few things in mind. Above all, plan your felling. Make sure the tree falls in the proper direction and never underestimate the potential for variations in the angle or height of the tree.

You also want to check the tree for damage prior to cutting into it. There’s nothing more frightening than cutting into a tree only to experience barber chair where it splits unpredictably up the middle and kicks out (possibly toward you).

STIHL MSA 200C Chainsaw tree felling

You also want to plan the entire job—including removal. Will there be any issues with removing the tree from the place you have it fall (ruts, streams, etc)? Are you “bucking” the natural order of things? A tree leaning heavily in one direction will not easily go the other. That takes experience and lots of planning. Take into account the weight and predisposition of the tree.

Post-Prep and Maintenance

You can’t just run a chainsaw forever without maintaining it. A dull and/or poorly-tensioned blade presents a danger to the operator. You must check your saw before and after every job to make sure the tool is in perfect operating order. Does it have enough chain oil? Is there a regularly scheduled maintenance plan for the tool? Chainsaw maintenance plays a huge role in safety.

Tool-less - Bar Oil Tank

Final Thoughts

There is a lot more to consider, but for now, hopefully, these chainsaw safety tips give you a leg up…or help you keep a leg attached? Since both professionals and homeowners can benefit from using a chainsaw safely—and we hope everyone reading this learned at least something helpful.

Related articles

DK2 Elite Energy Line

One of the great things about OPE journalism is watching companies grow. So often, a manufacturer’s backstory adds context to news about a product or series. For instance, DK2 has come a long way since it started as a small business run out of a basement. Three generations later, they’re still at it, and they […]

Vertex Stand On Mowers 2024 Lineup

Exmark hasn’t been around all that long. Some manufacturers have been at it for over a century, whereas they started in 1982. Yet, in this comparatively short period of time, Exmark has made a significant impact on the world of commercial mowers. In fact, today, they’re arguably the leading manufacturer of professional landscaping equipment. That’s […]

DeWalt 20V Max Chainsaw

Chainsaws are tools for all seasons. In the spring, summer, and fall, you’re either cutting fallen limbs after storms or preparing firewood to season. Moreover, ice and snow bring down their fair share of obstacles, too. Either way, a dependable chainsaw is an asset. And for those who want to ditch the gas can for […]

John Deere QuikTrak Mowers for 2024

John Deere has achieved iconic status in many parts of the OPE universe. This includes a variety of heavy and residential equipment, ranging from combines to farm and residential tractors. After all, they’ve been around for over a century, which is plenty of time to build an extensive inventory. That said, Deere continues to expand […]