Chain Saw Safety Tips For Safe Storm Cleanup

VIRGINIA BEACH , Va. – In the wake of recent storms and with more looming, it’s important to learn how to reduce the risk of injury during cleanup and repair. STIHL offers free, online resources to help. You can view the company’s video on chain saw safety, as well as download the chain saw safety manual, online at http://www.stihlusa.com/stormcleanup/index.html. Be sure to always read, understand and follow the directions in the manufacturer’s instruction manual when operating any power tool.

“People think that after the storm has passed the danger is over, but an alarming number of people are injured each year during cleanup,” said Mark Chisholm, certified arborist with Aspen Tree Expert Company in Jackson, NJ. “If you are clearing major debris like downed trees, consult with a tree care professional and take all safety precautions possible.”

When attempting smaller cleanup jobs on your own, follow these tips from LearnStormSafety.com:

• Always wear proper protective equipment, including hearing and eye protection, proper helmet system, heavy duty nonslip gloves, chain saw protective pants or chaps.
• Look up before walking beneath trees after a storm. Broken tree limbs may still be lodged in trees, but can easily fall. These are referred to as “widowmakers” for good reason. 
• When a tree is uprooted or downed, it creates an unnatural pattern of pressure points and tension. An unknowing chain saw operator may be in severe danger if attempting to cut a tensioned limb or trunk (called a “springpole”) – it may have an extremely violent, catapult-like reaction. Consult a professional.
• Watch for downed utility lines and never try to move them without professional assistance. Phone lines can also carry an electric charge.

More information and tips are available at www.stihlusa.com and www.learnstormsafety.com.

About Mark Chisholm

One part acrobat, one part expert rope climber, one part tree physiologist, and several parts competitor and thrill seeker, Mark Chisholm is a third-generation, certified arborist with his family-owned Aspen Tree Expert Company in New Jersey. His expertise in tree care has made him a sought after consultant and industry spokesperson for the world of arboriculture, and he regularly travels the globe to consult with international arborist associations.

About STIHL Inc.
STIHL Inc. manufactures the number one selling brand of gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment in America for homeowners and professional landscapers*, as well as the number one selling brand of chain saws in the world. STIHL products are sold through servicing power equipment retailers from coast to coast – not mass merchants. STIHL products sold through U.S. STIHL dealers are for distribution in the United States only. For more information or for the name of a local STIHL retailer, call toll free 1-800-GO STIHL (1-800-467-8445) or visit the dealer locator on the STIHL website at www.stihlusa.com/.
 
*"Number one selling brand" is based on syndicated Irwin Broh Research (commercial landscapers) as well as independent consumer research of 2010 U.S. sales and market share data for the gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment category combined sales to consumers and commercial landscapers.
 
STIHL is pleased to support the work of Independent We Stand , the Tree Research and Education Endowment Fund (TREE Fund) , International Society of Arboriculture (ISA ), the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) , National FFA , Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) , the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) , and the National Association of State Park Directors .