More protection in climbing PPE..?

[Acer Forestry]

I'm curious about general response to this question. Would more arbs wear a saw protective climbing jacket if a comfortable type of the right kind of weight was available? It seems crazy to me that with the general obsession with safety now that nobody (that I can find) produces a very light weight protective garment for climbing, that could be worn without causing overheating/discomfort. Is stuff like Kevlar too expensive?Surely some protection (all over front, not just upper torso), is better than nothing, on a high risk job. I know Arblite do one, but you'd still get hot in that, in time.Thoughts on that please..

Edited December 28, 2008 by Flarris
Easily misinterpreted, to begin with

[Steve Bullman]

wouldn't entertain the idea personally...i struggle in a t-shirt sometimes!

[Mr Ed]

in short, NO. The obsesion is not with safety, rather its an obsession with legislation. I would not wear protective pants unless it was a legislative requirement. The last thing I want is some all over ballistic nylon suit - if you need one, you should'nt be allowed to use a chainsaw.

[John Shutler]

i couldnt think of anything worse, like steve said i struggle in a tshirt, and even in the winter im plenty warm enough with a base layer and tshirt. think that if you feel the need for a protective jacket you should be questioning your work positioning

[Peter]

If it was lighter and cooler than a t-shirt, of course i would wear it. All chainsaw ppe is forestry led, hence front leg protection. Anyone who had done any conifer felling, snedding, and crosscutting will know how easy it is to slip and stick the saw in your knee. For climbing, all the saw protection is in the work positioning. Just saying, hmm, climbing looks more dangerous therefore you should wear more ppe is not the answer. You shouldnt be cutting anywhere near the front or back of your legs in the tree, let alone your torso or arms.

[Parker]

More PPE ?!?!

 

Any PPE is only a last resort if an accident should happen!! If you are trying to reduce the number of accidents that happen then stop the incompetent chainsaw/machinery users by enforcing people to have the relevant tickets/experience.

 

I'm not saying this will stop all accidents but it would prevent those that are not professional from trying to do a highly dangerous and skilled job.

[skyhuck]

If I thought I needed MORE PPE than we already have, I would quit.

[Jason James Gairn]

Spray on protection. The future? Has anyone been injured on the torso?

There are many contributing factors involved in an accident, from stupidity to the increasing need for profit. To eliminate all the factors would be ridiculous. To ignore them would be foolhardy. A balance i guess would be good.

[Andy Collins]

We already have protective sleeves and protective gloves for those that wish to wear them, at what point do you stop? How do you protect the neck/face, equally the risk is there for this area too, maybe full body armour? Maybe ok to wear loads of protection this time of year, what in the summer, heat exhaustion will be a killer!

Anyone else had to wear chainsaw ppe, flash-over suit, and hi-viz all at the same time in mid-summer?

[High Scale]

I wouldn't wear one.