Top handle saw use on the ground

[agrimog]

I believe that once again theyve covered there ars*

"you must assess the effect of the site and the weather as well as following this guidance." the word is guidance, not compulsion. And as long as you can buy top handled saws on the open market without any form of licence or restriction, you'll never stop them being used on the ground

[Paul Jenks]

I feel the reason many companies prohibit the use of top handled saws on the ground is twofold.

Firstly, this is the simplest way of covering a grey area of rules and regs. One only has to look at the HSE stats to see most injuries with chainsaws are by untrained individuals. A certificated operative using a chainsaw of whatever orientation has little chance of injuring themselves or others when using it in accordance with guidelines.

 

Secondly, much of our learning through life is emanative. This means we watch others and do what they do. Alas, a newbie watching an experienced, trained operator doesn't pick up the nuances of dynamic risk assessment going on in the operators head all the time the saw is being used. To this end, they may well pick up the saw to cut something inappropriate and injure themselves, where an experienced operator may well have chosen a different tool, different position or different methodology using his/her training and experience.

 

Therefore, again, it is simpler to just prohibit their use on the ground.

[Marc]

HSE say "One-handed use should be restricted to circumstances where one hand is required to

maintain a stable working position and the saw is used at extended reach with the

other hand, eg while cutting at the extremities of limbs."

 

So it is OK to take chances whilst up a tree, but if you are standing on the ground, in a stable position using both hands, you can't use a top handled saw.

 

What a load of tosh. Is this the same across the rest of Europe?

 

Perhaps our European human rites are being infringed.

 

H-A

 

The advice given out by the HSE seems good and we'll thought out, almost like it was written by an experienced arborist who understood chainsaw use in the tree, where on "rare" occasions it is indeed safer to use the saw one hand at extremities of the crown where getting a stable position is difficult, then using the saw with one hand the other for additional stability whilst cutting away from you and not within kickback zone is safer.

 

So no I do not think it is tosh, there is never a justifiable excuse to use a topper on the ground..... But we do, I know I have and probably will again.

Using the excuse it makes a better cut is not justifiable either, you could buy a cheap hobby saw for use by the chipper or making pruning cuts on the ground with the same chain type as a topper.

Just so we are clear I use my topper on the ground to make pruning cuts as it's often all I have to hand, but this is not really a good excuse now is it!

 

I will always go for a back handle saw as it's far more comfortable to use, also I find as I get older using a topper is more fatiguing on my wrists.

 

Yet I will pick up a topper to make the odd cut on the ground it's not more hazardous than any other saw when used appropriately, ultimately using one on the ground inappropriately is tempting so the HSE responded with guidelines. So if you do injure yourself with one on the ground going against HSE guidelines well do I need to say more.

 

Stay safe.

[Stubby]

Will use mine on the ground one handed and at full stretch from now on to minimize risk of injury ......

[Shane]

It is , allegedly, easier to hold a branch/log with one hand then cut it with a top handled saw using only the other hand.

 

Some say this is safer than cutting logs/branches in a pile (with a back handled saw) and risking kick-back from the tip catching on the brushwood below.... allegedly.

 

Botton line has to be - if it is safe and legal - fine.

If it unsafe or illegal - a different type of fine, and/or injury.

[ukminch]

We all do it, me included but strictly speaking it sounds like wrong tool for the job, you shouldn't be using a chainsaw on the ground above your head for pruning, a pole pruner would be a more suitable tool, or the tree should be climbed, not I know this isn't going to happen, but surely this is the employers take on it?

[mike83]

used to laugh at 170`s and 181ms`s etc but with a 10/12" picco type bar and chain are real good for low level pruning.

always a right tool for the job.

[skyhuck]

Its OK saying buy another small rear handle saw for ground work, but thats another saw to carry, store and prevent from being stolen from site.

[bob]

I believe that once again theyve covered there ars*

"you must assess the effect of the site and the weather as well as following this guidance." the word is guidance, not compulsion. And as long as you can buy top handled saws on the open market without any form of licence or restriction, you'll never stop them being used on the ground

 

 

There are licenses required and restrictions already in place

Or at least there is supposed to be

[JLA Arborists]

Its OK saying buy another small rear handle saw for ground work, but thats another saw to carry, store and prevent from being stolen from site.

 

There's nothing to say a rear handle can't be used up a tree.

 

Strap a lanyard to the rear handle of 181etc then sling it over your shoulder, you'd hardly notice it.

Surely you have appropriate security measures for the rest if your kit, just keep the small R/H with the rest of the kit.

If your storage facility (truck or unit etc) is that small you can't fit a 181 or equivalent I don't know what to suggest