We know how tough it is working in extreme conditions.
With Zeros, we designed a new generation of chainsaw pants that made working in heat and humidity possible.
There is another extreme. The cold and wet.
Ember – Winterproof chainsaw pants for working in the cold and wet weather.
Winter Chainsaw Pants for the Cold and Wet Weather
Arborists in the colder parts of North America work in temperatures as low as -20 F and some times even colder than that. Up until now, the only option to stay safe is to wear heavy chainsaw pants with thermals underneath. This makes movement difficult.
As a result, we created another new type of chainsaw pant – the Ember. The only winter chainsaw pants designed for keeping out the cold wind and rain.
No one likes making mistakes and when it comes to caring for, choosing or wearing your chainsaw protection, that is no exception. Making any mistake can leave room for error and given chainsaw chaps and pants have the potential to save your life – it is important you get it right.
For those operating in the professional tree care industry – whether you are a seasoned arborist, experienced groundie or in charge of procuring safety for your crew, you will no doubt be familiar with chainsaw protection. In this post we will provide 18 examples of common mistakes that can occur when choosing, using and caring for chainsaw chaps and pants and some tips on how you can avoid making these mistakes.
Paired with education and good technique, chainsaw PPE can help save your life.
Why is chainsaw protection important?
A chainsaw operator has three lines of defence: education, good technique, and personal protective equipment (PPE). When the first two fail, PPE can save your life.
The thought of chainsaw injuries resulting in death is very confronting. In 2012, 243 workers died while engaging in tree-trimming and clearing activities (OSHA, 2012). The impact chainsaw injuries can have on a business is huge. Not only can it look unprofessional, but there is also lost income and it can hinder ability to carry out future jobs efficiently. In most instances, serious injury or fatality as a result of a chainsaw can all be prevented with the use of PPE. So, what are the 18 Top Mistakes with Choosing, Using and Caring for Chainsaw Chaps and Pants?
Canada has operated under the regulations of two separate chainsaw protective clothing standards for many years. See our global chainsaw protective standards post for more.
Firstly, the one used by British Columbia, WCB Standard PPE 1-1997 Leg Protective Devices. This was later called the WorkSafeBC Standard – Leg Protective Devices, and was included as Schedule 8.21 in their OHSR regulations.
In October 2010, WorkSafe issued an “Explanatory Note” advising that the testing facility for testing to this standard had closed and that other international standards should be recognised. One such standard is ASTM F1897. However, rather than adopt its criteria for cut-resistance of 2750 ft/min, WorkSafeBC specified a chainspeed of 3300 ft/min as being more appropriate for worker safety. This remains the current standard for British Columbia (18 December 2020).
The one used by the rest of Canada was CAN/BNQ 1923 issued by the Bureau de Normalisation du Quebec in 1991. Although this standard was withdrawn some years ago, it continued to be the accepted standard for chainsaw protective clothing and could be tested against by Underwriters Laboratory. This standard and its replacement is the focus of this post.
Like all Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), you should regularly maintain and clean Clogger chainsaw pants and chaps to ensure that they remain fully functional. Regular maintenance will also extend the life of your Clogger chainsaw protective apparel.
Clogger products use a range of advanced textiles and fibres that have various finishes and coatings. These all have different properties that need to be considered and understood carefully.
This guide provides users of Clogger chainsaw protective apparel comprehensive advice on how to clean, maintain and inspect your Clogger gear so that you get the most out of your investment.
In late 2018, we ran a Pink Zero campaign. Our goal was to do it again in 2019 but our products proved a bit too popular! We were too busy trying to keep up with orders to run the campaign.
In 2020, we are still working to support our growing customer base but we felt that we had to do it again.
The use of chainsaw chaps or pants is important. Really important. Continuing cases of chainsaw injuries show that there is a real need to educate chainsaw operators on not only wearing chainsaw protection but also selecting the best chainsaw protective product for their situation, how to maintain chainsaw protective garments and other critical questions.
In this post, we review the most common questions asked about chainsaw protection and provide the answers that you need.
The all new Ascend chainsaw pants are now
available for purchase.
And we’re all pretty excited about this launch at Clogger.
We’ve been working on the new Ascends over a year. Why? Because we wanted to complete our range with a new option for cooler conditions and for people who prefer a more classic design.
Your chainsaw safety gear is important. Really important. Continuing cases of chainsaw injuries show that there is a real need to educate chainsaw operators on the correct selection and use of chainsaw safety gear.
This guide examines the different styles and options of chainsaw PPE available to the user and how to choose the best chainsaw protection for your unique situation.
