a cautionary tale

[eeyore]

on thursday while clearing up from the storm i was taking down two widdow makers (that is trees hung up in another tree but still connected at the base) which were hung up in the same tree.

as i cut the first one it snapped and fell unexpectedly snapping of the branch the second one was resting on -the second one then slammed against another tree on its way down bringing that down as well

i droped the chainsaw and jumped back out of the way of the big stuff but i still took a circa 3" dia branch on the head , smashing my hard hat and a circa 6" dia bough on my left arm - impacting first on the shoulder then pivoting on to the left wrist - not to mention numerous smaller bits that showered down on and arround me.

up shot of this is that i have a badly bruised left arm , with two fingers that were completely numb til yesterday and are now suffering pins and needles , plus an rsi type feeling from the swelling. my left arm is in a tubi grip and sling and i also have numerous cuts, abbrasions and bruises all over my shoulders and back

the only consolation is that things could have been much worse had i not had the right gear on - the moral of the story being that no matter how expert you are - an i'm an artiste with the chainsaw - accidents do happen and only the right gear will save you from serious injury or death

[glsammy]

Crikey Pete, that was a close one..I'm pleased your at least well enough to post here.
As you said, you never know what might happen, it's never worth taking chances with your safety when dealing with any cutting/electrial tools.
I hope your soon back to rude health!

[Garden Carpet]

Good grief eeyore, I am pleased you escaped any further damage. Take care. No wonder you call them widow makers. Hope you recover quickly
jaki

[badgerwatcher]

Get well soon, Eeyore. Very lucky you had the hard hat, and dropped the chainsaw.

[cherrybee]

What a close think hope you feel better soon

[Wild-Woman]

Eeyore-good advice. I could tell you all the tale about the day I went through the cable of our hedge-trimmers whilst it was live. (Der!-Couldn't if it wasn't live WW).
Just don't. Scared my husband to death and have been banned from ever using them again! (Good job I'd switched on the circuit breaker otherwise I'd be the first ghost writer...know what I mean)

Leave it to those who know what they're doing is my advice-or get some training in using electrical garden equipment.

Glad you aren't badly hurt Pete, although you're sore, a lesson for us all to learn methinks.

Footnote-just read through what I wrote. Sorry Pete-I made it sound like you were careless like me. Pete (Eeyore) is a pro at what he does and highly trained-his accident was fluke-mine was carelessness!!!

Jules

[Fourwings]

A close call by all accounts pal.

As you correctly say it doesn't matter how proficient you are with a chainsaw when unexpected things like this happen,even to experienced proffesionals such as yourself. I was once hit on the head by a loose branch whilst felling a Willow tree, it knocked my helmet off and spent my spawling in the mud, I was fortunate to get away with just a stiff neck and a bruised ego!

I have spent the last week sawing up several large trees downed by the gales and you get some funny looks from passers by when they see the gear you are wearing, ie. Safety helmet which incorporates a face sheild and ear protectors,Kevlar armoured boots, trousers,jacket & gloves. You may look like an invader from outer space with all this on but it is designed to save your life in the event of things going wrong.

Its examples like yours Pete that prove the point of correct chainsaw training and certification to use them. I still strongly believe that they shouldn't be on sale to the general public in DIY stores, Garden centres etc..... anyone can just go and buy one, they are then in a position to use a power tool that can kill or seriously injure them in seconds!!

I hope you make a speedy recovery from your injuries mate.

[jennyb]

Glad you are okay, Eeyore. It could have been so much worse. Thank goodness you were using the right gear.

I am terrified of chainsaws and cannot bear to see people using them. We regularly have our trees trimmed and when the tree surgeon is swinging around on ropes with a chain saw, it makes my toes tingle.

Take care of yourself.

Jenny

[badgerwatcher]

Same here, Jenny. I have to go to the other end of the house and do something else.
A man working in our local park once tried to chat me up whilst holding a chainsaw. Little tip to the guys_ I would think for most women, this is not a turn-on.

[snowdrop]

Blumineck Eeyore, that was a close-call. It sounds as if you've been left with a damaged/trapped nerve. Hope you recover soon.

[smartie]

Glad it was no worse, Eeyore. Hope you recover quickly.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by badgerwatcher

A man working in our local park once tried to chat me up whilst holding a chainsaw. Little tip to the guys_ I would think for most women, this is not a turn-on.

i dont know - my success rate at this approach is quite high - one girl started stroking the spun kevlar of my leggings ( in the.... ahhh.... uppper thigh area) while i explained what they were for

bottom line is that a chainsaw is no more inherently dangerous than anything else so long as you use it properly and have the right gear and training - my accident was more to do with the way the trees were hung up than with the saw and would have probably happened even if i had been using a handsaw or an axe.

btw feeling has returned to my left hand now and the arm only aches a bit , thanks for the good wishes every body

oh and julie - get a petrol driven hedge cutter , or a rechargeable one - they are much safer to use.

[Gill Catton]

Oh No!!! So glad you are ok!!! I do a fair amount of work supervising tree surgeons and it always amazes me what they are able to do and the risks involved but yes as you say they are always kitted out in the right stuff. Unlike stupid ecological consultants who forget their ear defeneders and stand there getting tinnitus.........

Be more careful you and keep an eye open for angry ents they could be to blame you know......

[Kymba]

Glad you werent to badly hurt eeyore.....Think you should take it easy for a few days.. spend them on here with us

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Oh No!!! So glad you are ok!!! I do a fair amount of work supervising tree surgeons and it always amazes me what they are able to do and the risks involved but yes as you say they are always kitted out in the right stuff. Unlike stupid ecological consultants who forget their ear defeneders and stand there getting tinnitus.........

Be more careful you and keep an eye open for angry ents they could be to blame you know......

now now gill - we all know that your tinitinitus comes from too many hours spent too near the speakers at gigs - you cant claim that as a work related injury

and the fallen trees can't be ents - if the were they could be rounded up and hered off the trails - look out for me blasting through your neck of the woods tommorow morning in my big blue pick up truck with pole saws strapped to the roof on the way to og st george - where we'll be doing guess what .... yeah , widdow makers