Pruning or trimming large trees can be quite a difficult task. They’re bigger and bulkier than your typical shrubs and bushes and need different instruments too. It would help if you had heavier pole saws to trim and prune tree branches. There are many instances where a person pruning or trimming tree branches was seriously injured. And Pole Saw Safety is a critical issue in this regard. Serious accidents may occur if proper safety measures are not taken while using a pole saw. So that’s why today’s article is on this exact safety issue.
What’s a pole saw and what’s it used for:
A pole saw is an electric chainsaw attached at the end of a long pole. It is attached at the end of a long pole so that the braches of long tress that are usually out of our reach can be trimmed and pruned correctly. As it’s a chainsaw at the end of a long pole, it also has very sharp metallic teeth at the end, along the edges of the main saw. And that’s why it may be hazardous to operate one without adopting proper safety measures.
The safety measures to be followed before and while operating a pole saw can again be divided into two broad categories- 1. Safety measures to be adopted before starting trimming and 2. Safety measures to be taken while using the Pole saw.
Safety Measures to be adopted before starting using the machine:
- First of all and this should come from common sense; you HAVE to know the details of how to use an electric pole saw. Please read the manual that comes with the machine again and again before using it. You cannot think of this equipment as just another hammer lying around your house that you can smash around with. Remember, this is a very sharp tool and may cause severe accidents if you don’t know how to use it properly.
- Make sure you have checked for damaged teeth around the pole saw before you start cutting because broken saw teeth are one of the main reasons for a pole saw stuck in trees and getting snapped and causing severe accidents.
- Make sure your tool is utterly okay before you start using it. Check and recheck each hardware of the device, all the screws and nuts should be perfectly tight. Make sure to check your chain oil level.
- Check and double-check that you’re wearing the right protective clothing. Make sure you’re wearing safety boots with steel caps for the safety of your feet as well as stability. Wear long, heavy-duty trousers or cargo pants to protect your legs from flying debris or a broken saw part. Make sure that you’re wearing a cumbersome duty helmet so that the broken twigs don’t fly off on your head or that even if by chance the saw chain gets shattered or torn, it doesn’t fly into your eyes or head. Wear protective gloves for a firm grip on the pole.
- Remember the quote, “Prevention is better than Curing.” It’s good practice If you plan. Study the tree and decide how you want to approach the procedure rather than just winging it and risking yourself in the process. If you think the branch is too thick for you, then take help from a professional. Make sure that there are no electrical wires attached to the wire.
- Make sure you have a big enough area for working so that you don’t trip and fall.
- Make sure the area is clear of other people and animals. Also, plugin the cords correctly and make sure they’re not yanked from the connection point.
Pole Saw Safety Measures while using the machine:
- Make sure that you have a firm grip on the equipment and that you’re holding it upright. Remember that the more angled the saw is or, the more parallel to the ground it is, the harder it becomes to maneuver the equipment. So keep it upright for your safety and ease of use.
- NEVER EVER cut a branch straight over your head. No matter how pro you are, never attempt this. When we try cutting exactly over our head, the whole weight of the machine falls entirely on our shoulder blades, and if by accident we lose control and the saw starts falling on us at an angle, then we’re in big trouble. Serious injuries may occur. Also, the branch itself may fall on you.
- Remember to keep both feet firmly planted on the ground at all times. Firm footing will provide you superior stability over your own body, and in turn, you’ll get better handling.
- While cutting into a branch, remember that the pole saw has a recoil like a gun. So be prepared to handle the recoil so that you don’t lose your grip, and an accident doesn’t occur.
- While cutting into a branch, make sure to slowly ease into it rather than pushing the saw forcefully into the limb. Please don’t force it, let the saw do its work.
- Use it for pruning big trees only and keep that limited to pruning or trimming too. Make sure you are not doing heavy cutting with such instruments.
- Make sure your footing is on the plain, even ground. Don’t go using such a massive and sharp instrument in muddy areas.
- Finally, stop using the tool immediately if it starts to rain.
Conclusion:
Pole saws are essential tools that help keep your backyards, lawns, gardens, and farms clean. However, though they have beneficial use, they have safety hazards too. Unless used correctly and safely, they can cause severe damage to you and the people around you. This is why Pole Saw safety is now a compulsory learning topic for anyone, be it a professional or a non-professional.
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This is me Sonnet. I manage a full-time workshop for my clients’ woodworking projects. From a very young age, I’ve been always passionate about DIY projects. And that’s the reason I’m amicable with the woodworking tools. I’m regularly handling a couple of projects like cabinets, furniture, boats, and many more using wood, veneers, and laminates.