Have the HSE finally seen sense on chainsaw trousers

[Rupe]

Ok, I totally agree with you now! Conifer are a whole different thing, there should be a seperate NPTC for them.

 

Chainsaw boots in a Leylandii hedge yes, and all round protection.

 

Can you imagine having to rescue someone from the top of a leyland hedge!! They don't teach that scenario do they!

[Dean Lofthouse]

Ok, I totally agree with you now! Conifer are a whole different thing, there should be a seperate NPTC for them.

 

 

Don't you just love em !

[Big 'Ammer]

All from the 020 Rupe and all from conifer work.

 

No tie in points, nearly doing the splits trying to gain purchase in a row of conifer 300ft long and 20ft wide where planting was too far spaced and you can see what your doing until you have cleared all the crap from around you cutting near to your feet and body etc etc etc

 

Oh (Sigh) in an ideal world where we had a choice of tie in points and ideal positioning................................

 

It's ok people saying you should position yourself better but that's not always possible

 

Dean you own a MEWP!

 

You never need to climb a conifer hedge again!

[Dean Lofthouse]

Dean you own a MEWP!

 

You never need to climb a conifer hedge again!

 

I had the MEWP there Nige.

 

But I had to climb out of the mewp into the middle of the hedge just to be able to reach across the other side.

[Log-ologist]

I've had my boots 2 years and they have 4 cuts on the toecaps

 

 

 

stay in the MEWP son.

[Big 'Ammer]

I have always climbed in protective trousers either all round or front only, depending on what I was provided with at the time.

 

When you've climbed in the old fashioned ballistics for years, new type C stretchy trousers are comfortable anyway.

 

The new style stretchy types are so far ahead of the old stuff, so I don't find it a problem climbing in type C hiflex in any weather and from experience I would rather have it than not.

 

I know very well the value of chainsaw protection.

 

9 or 10 years ago, whilst working alone thinning a small plantation, I had cut a 10" stem off a twin stem birch with a 254 at waist height.

 

I then made the pruning cut and took a step backwards with finger off the throttle and saw running down to tick over.

 

My right foot went in a divot and I stumbled backwards hitting then bar against the top of my left leg.

 

The chain brake came on and even though the saw wasn't running at full chat it still went almost through all the layers and didnt jam the sprocket fully.

 

I was well shaken up.

 

I was not a novice. The thought of still being able to have an accident whilst doing nothing stupid or wrong bugged me for a long time.

 

If I'd had no leg protection I'd probably have bled to death.

 

So I wear protective trousers when I'm at work every day. Some days I might only make a few cuts if I'm grounding and stuffing the chipper but I don't want to take the chance, it isn't worth it.

[Marc]

Surley the point of risk assesments etc are to assess risk and develop a strategy to effectivley reduce and manage it. For instance on a prune or dismantle I wear type A trousers, however i often wear type C's when working in hedges and have the risk assesments accordingly.

In my eye's it's the managment of risk that is the critical issue

 

Nicley put, the only problem is carrying round all the different protection, i often don't know what i'm doing, one day to the next.

I have type C and some nice durable hiking trousers, if my work is most pruning saw stuff i'll where hiking trousers or even shorts. And hiking trousers/shorts are easier to carry in your kit bag.

[Marc]

Every second counts, the less time I spend in work and the more time out with my friends and loved ones (all say ahhhh) then so much the better.

 

Please tell me you are joking? what is this about in the real world getting into a decent work position takes to long?

 

If i've misunderstood you and your just being funny then fair enough.

 

The quickest most effcient climbers i've ever worked with have impeccable work positioning, i'm thankfull that i've gotten to work with such class climbers as its shown that good positioning is ALWAYS quicker, admittedly occasionally i have to hold an uncomfortable position but this is usually so i don't have to use the saw in a dangerous position.

 

Its like the old hand hold cut thing, saying that its easier and quicker to hand hold and cut several lighter pieces than it is to rope it down in one piece is rubbish, there is always a better way.

 

The tools and equipment we have availible to us now means we can work easier and more effciently than before.

[Mesterh]

Well most of it was supposed to be tongue in cheek.

 

 

Its like the old hand hold cut thing, saying that its easier and quicker to hand hold and cut several lighter pieces than it is to rope it down in one piece is rubbish, there is always a better way..

 

Well I'm gonna disagree with you there, you try roping down every branch on a super dense leylandii while I cut and throw.

 

Whats the betterway?

[Mesterh]

There shoulda been one of these on the end of the sentence.

 

I meant the end of my previous sentence not yours btw Rupe.

Just in case you got offended