How chainsaw protective clothing can save your life

Perhaps you’ve held a chainsaw in your hands before or even have one in your shed. It’s a handy tool, but also a life-threatening device. Did you know that there is special clothing designed to prevent you from accidentally cutting into your leg or upper body? In this article, I’ll tell you how chainsaw protective clothing can save your life.

How chainsaw protective clothing can save your life
Photo: Tim Umphreys – Unsplash

The standard for chainsaw protective clothing

Given the many risks associated with a chainsaw, it won’t surprise you that professionals need to protect themselves when using one. Just like the man in the photo above, you should never go unprotected while working. If someone accidentally lets the tool drop too far, they’ll immediately cause serious damage to their leg. And that’s putting it mildly.

This is why the EN ISO 11393 standard exists. This European standard determines whether a piece of clothing is safe to wear when using a chainsaw. Within this standard, there are four different protection classes. Which one you need depends on the speed of your chainsaw. For example, Class 0 covers speeds up to 16 meters per second, and Class 4 protects you up to 28 meters per second. In practice, the lower classes (0 and 1) are usually suitable for people who use a chainsaw as a hobby. Think of those who want to cut down a sturdy tree or break down wooden pallets. Professionals deal with machines that generally operate faster, meaning they need protection from Class 2 or 3.

In addition to the cut protection classes, there are sub-standards within EN ISO 11393 that specify how each part of the body must be protected. These distinctions are made for the protection of the legs, hands, feet, and upper body. Each sub-standard then outlines which part (for example, just the back of your hand or your entire hand) should be protected in different circumstances.

Example of protective clothing and gloves for chainsaw use

How chainsaw protective clothing can save your life

Looking at the special chainsaw protective clothing, you might wonder how the fabric can protect you. And that’s understandable because from the outside, the material looks like any other fabric used in regular workwear.

What distinguishes chainsaw protective clothing is the fact that it contains very long fibers. By processing these fibers in a special way, they cause the chainsaw to stall. The fibers wrap around the chainsaw’s chain, preventing it from moving. Despite the high speed of the machine, it will immediately stop, ensuring you can’t saw off your leg or hand.

In the video below, you’ll see how a chainsaw reacts to a regular pair of jeans and then to special protective clothing that meets the standard.

@interestingengineering

See what happens if you cut into your chainsaw protection clothes.

♬ original sound – interestingengineering – interestingengineering

Don’t forget to protect your eyes with face protection or safety goggles. With all that wood, there’s a high chance a splinter could get in your eye. Naturally, you want to avoid that. And for those who want to enjoy some music while working, I also recommend wearing hearing protection. Whether you’re using the chainsaw for work or leisure, safety always comes first.

Best regards,
Aileen

Geef een reactie

Je e-mailadres wordt niet gepubliceerd. Vereiste velden zijn gemarkeerd met *

CommentLuv badge