Warning GRAPHIC PICTURES chainsaw injury!

[Gnarlyoak]

Doh!

 

Had a bit of a mishap last Tuesday whilst dismantling a dead multi stemmed HC. As I was chogging off a section of one of the stem, cutting holding the saw with my left hand ( I know operating a saw one handed ) and pushing the section with my right hand to stop it from pinching the saw. The section broke away, as planned and expected, but my left hand with the running saw rose up and I didn't move my right hand away quickly enough resulting in a mid air contact!

 

The tip and top of the saw cut into the palm of my hand and down my wrist towards the underside of my forearm. Youch! Came down out of the tree calling for the first aid kit, but once I took my glove off quickly realised there wouldn't be enough plasters in the box to cover it and a trip to A&E was called for. Still thought after a couple of stitches I would be back on site in time to help the lads out cleaning up. Sadly it wasn't a simple as that and I ended up in hospital for four days, requiring an operation to clean up and repair the damage..............

 

A stupid mistake to make, and despite the mess you see in the pics I was still extraordinarily lucky as I managed to miss all of the vital structures in my hand and wrist, such as the tendons and arteries by a fraction of millimetres.

 

This was an entirely avoidable accident. The diameter of the section I was cutting was just over the length of my 12" bar on my MS200. I elected to cut straight through the section one hand using my free hand as leverage. I could/should have used either a step cut, or a gob and back cut, and probably used a bigger saw instead as well. These options would have cost a few extra seconds, maybe a couple of minutes at the most changing up to a bigger saw. Instead I've unnecessarily put myself into hospital for four days and out of work for upto 3-4 weeks!! Muppet.

 

So think about what you're doing ladies and germs, and stay safe.

[Andrew Gale]

You weren't wrong with graphic; hope you mend soon Gnarly, and as you say stay safe..

[Alinicoll]

Ouch, what a mess. Glad you`re reasonably okay.

[daveindales]

You won't be the first or the last to do that. Never cut myself yet, but have had a number of near misses over the years. We'll done for posting.

[sloth]

Crikey! You got off lightly, you're still alive. Glad you're okay, and hope this thread helps someone else from making the same mistake

 

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[timbernut]

Good on you for posting! Most, if not all of us, get complacent or rush it sometimes and when someone like you 'puts their hand up' it serves as a reminder of how quickly things go wrong. Some are abit too macho to admit to messing up: a lad who worked for me a while ago mentioned his boss' chest was better after a kickback incident a few weeks before, I know his boss well and see him regularly but he never mentioned it to anyone! Hope your back upstairs soon.

[mdvaden]

If you don't mind, let me add this other graphic with red, for after people scroll through your gruesome photos

 

Also, note the two-handed grip ... lol

 

Early 90s, I fell back off an orchard ladder, on my back, saw running. Woke up from unconsciousness after a moment, with the saw idling, chain and bar across my forearm, but no cuts.

 

Broke a couple of ribs though.

 

 

 

 

 

 

...

[IanW]

hope you recover well and soon too

 

ian

 

 

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[IanW]

If you don't mind, let me add this other graphic with red, for after people scroll through your gruesome photos

 

 

 

Also, note the two-handed grip ... lol

 

 

 

Early 90s, I fell back off an orchard ladder, on my back, saw running. Woke up from unconsciousness after a moment, with the saw idling, chain and bar across my forearm, but no cuts.

 

 

 

Broke a couple of ribs though.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...

 

now that's just sweet as a nut !!

 

 

 

 

 

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[neilb]

Christ! Hope you heal quickly. And as above well done for sharing.