Chainsaw safety course

[manhill]

Al Pacino didn't have much trouble starting his in Goodfellas.

 

[BobTheSmallholder]

If only Colleges could get more young people to take these courses.
At this time of the year we have loads of work, but it is fencing, tree and woodland work.
I have had three young guys in the last month asking for work, one today. I ask if they have chainsaw tickets and the answer is always NO.

Today's one said I have been using a chainsaw for two years and I am very safe!!
Then I said go and do the courses and come back with the tickets and I will pay you £15.00 an hour.

Nice, at that pay rate I would recover the cost of my course, accommodation, food, fuel, safety gear and buying a brand new STIHL in just 6 weeks with no other expenses

 

[Bury the Trash]

Nice, at that pay rate I would recover the cost of my course, accommodation, food, fuel, safety gear and buying a brand new STIHL in just 6 weeks with no other expenses

where has he said anything about buying a brand new stihl being a requirement ?
Frank sounds like he would be a very good employer .

 

[Vader]

Did the basic cross cutting.
Found it good Intresting and useful.
So much so I went back for tree felling course. Always a tree needs dropping...

 

[Frankzy]

Mine was a 2week course when I was at forestry commission, two things i learned first day , start saw within 6ft of fuel can , fail.
Take one step without chain brake on , fail,
And I've seen numerous folk since do it,

Wait what? How could it be a problem to start within 2 metres of a fuel can?
And strictly speaking you shouldn't be failed for moving without the brake on either, as long as you always let go of the rear handle you are safe enough for a few steps...

+1 for on the ground with a firm hand on the handle and your boot on it. I wince when i see folks drop starting them.

Drop starting is the best method when the saw is easy to start imo..

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

Nice, at that pay rate I would recover the cost of my course, accommodation, food, fuel, safety gear and buying a brand new STIHL in just 6 weeks with no other expenses

With that attitude it is no wonder it is difficult for young people to get a well paid job.

These are people that have come to me wanting work. I would supply the saw, fuel and hopefully a safe working environment.
They have to turn up when they say they are going to and apply themselves so it is worthwhile me employing them.

Remember many of these are under 21 and on minimum wage in their present work which I believe is less than £8.50.
Some of the Czech's that used to work for us came out of higher education with a practical qualification as well as educational certificates. I believe similar needs to be done here.

 

[Willie adie]

Wait what? How could it be a problem to start within 2 metres of a fuel can?
And strictly speaking you shouldn't be failed for moving without the brake on either, as long as you always let go of the rear handle you are safe enough for a few steps...

Drop starting is the best method when the saw is easy to start imo..

Starting saw within 6ft of fuel can was an automatic fail, due to risk of spark igniting the fuel can ,as was taking one step without chain brake applied.
Yo yo starts again instant fail , now I'm just going by what the FC instructor said, he was maybe talking crap.

 

[Hard Graft]

Have done 3 tickets
maintenance and crosscut
Small fell
Large fell
Well worth it and I would recommend any one to do it

 

[Frankzy]

now I'm just going by what the FC instructor said, he was maybe talking crap.

I didn't mean to say that those things were allowed within your rules, I have after all no idea what your regulations looks like, only that they really are some rubbish rules.
I mean for one thing a couple of sparks will never get through a plastic fuel can. And applying the brake for a single step means you'd have to do it every time you reposition while delimbing a felled tree, it just gets absurd..

 

[Willie adie]

I didn't mean to say that those things were allowed within your rules, I have after all no idea what your regulations looks like, only that they really are some rubbish rules.
I mean for one thing a couple of sparks will never get through a plastic fuel can. And applying the brake for a single step means you'd have to do it every time you reposition while delimbing a felled tree, it just gets absurd..

The safest place for the saw is in a log or timber he said,
I retorted it was actually in the shed not being used

 

[TheTallGuy]

I didn't mean to say that those things were allowed within your rules, I have after all no idea what your regulations looks like, only that they really are some rubbish rules.
I mean for one thing a couple of sparks will never get through a plastic fuel can. And applying the brake for a single step means you'd have to do it every time you reposition while delimbing a felled tree, it just gets absurd..

The sparks don't necessarily need to get through a plastic can - there's often a bit of spillage & vapour around a can which could ignite. As for the brake, if you take a step then there is the possibility of tripping & falling onto the saw - especially when working around a felled tree. Is it worth the risk for the second or two it takes to apply and release the brake?

 

[thesilentone]

Horses for courses.

You can by an electric saw in B&Q and chop a leg off as easy as a 20" professional £1000.00 model. (might be a bit more ragged )

A ticket is just a passport to cover liability and insurance.

Their were several of us chopping away at the local shoot in the summer, and one guy kept flipping on the chain brake, guess who had been on the course ?

I'm not against tickets of competence, you also learn other things as well as safety.

However, a 12" hobby saw is a different beast to a large professional model.

 

[Grassman]

Horses for courses.



A ticket is just a passport to cover liability and insurance.

Their were several of us chopping away at the local shoot in the summer, and one guy kept flipping on the chain brake, guess who had been on the course ?

I'm not against tickets of competence, you also learn other things as well as safety.

Anyone who has done a telehandler course knows its all sensible stuff. Good for building sites perhaps with some unknown driver who may or may not be competent.

But in the real world of farm use its not realistic to operate as you are taught.

 

[BobTheSmallholder]

With that attitude it is no wonder it is difficult for young people to get a well paid job.

These are people that have come to me wanting work. I would supply the saw, fuel and hopefully a safe working environment.
They have to turn up when they say they are going to and apply themselves so it is worthwhile me employing them.

Remember many of these are under 21 and on minimum wage in their present work which I believe is less than £8.50.
Some of the Czech's that used to work for us came out of higher education with a practical qualification as well as educational certificates. I believe similar needs to be done here.

I was being genuinely supportive, that's a really good pay rate for the majority of people.

 

[Stewie]

I didn't mean to say that those things were allowed within your rules, I have after all no idea what your regulations looks like, only that they really are some rubbish rules.
I mean for one thing a couple of sparks will never get through a plastic fuel can.

Frankly speaking putting the fuel can away from the spot you are working in seems just common sense. He is saying 2 meters not 20...

 

[thesilentone]

I think part of the issue is inventing risk.

If you have a petrol can near a spark, then the advice has to be, move it away IF YOU ARE A TRAINER ! However, tell that to everyone who owns a motocross bike with a plastic tank immediately above the engine, or in fact the chainsaw itself which has a plastic fuel tank.

This is perhaps where common sense and over zealous risk mitigation crash.

 

[TheTallGuy]

I think part of the issue is inventing risk.

If you have a petrol can near a spark, then the advice has to be, move it away IF YOU ARE A TRAINER ! However, tell that to everyone who owns a motocross bike with a plastic tank immediately above the engine, or in fact the chainsaw itself which has a plastic fuel tank.

This is perhaps where common sense and over zealous risk mitigation crash.

The problem isn't the plastic tank, but the possibility of spillage and vapours being ignited by the engine. Most manuals I have read tend to say to leave it a few minutes before starting the engine because of dribbles & vapours etc from filling the tank.

 

[thesilentone]

The problem isn't the plastic tank, but the possibility of spillage and vapours being ignited by the engine. Most manuals I have read tend to say to leave it a few minutes before starting the engine because of dribbles & vapours etc from filling the tank.

Same thing.

How many actually wait ?

How many spill a bit on a hot engine ?

How often do vapours ignite ?

Is their a risk, yes. but how serious is the risk ?

Has anyone ever thrown petrol over a hot saw to measure the risk ?

 

[TheTallGuy]

Same thing.

How many actually wait ?

How many spill a bit on a hot engine ?

How often do vapours ignite ?

Is their a risk, yes. but how serious is the risk ?

Has anyone ever thrown petrol over a hot saw to measure the risk ?

The risk may not be high, but the consequences can be quite devastating and its a simple thing to avoid.

 

[Grassman]

Same thing.

How many actually wait ?

How many spill a bit on a hot engine ?

How often do vapours ignite ?

Is their a risk, yes. but how serious is the risk ?

Has anyone ever thrown petrol over a hot saw to measure the risk ?

Quite often in our motorcycle trial bikes fuel can get spilt on to a hot engine and very hot exhaust. It's surprising that non seem to get on fire!