safety with equipment

[rockriver]

I do some volunteer work at a park.

while cutting some small trees and planting some fruit trees,

I grabbed a chain saw that I'd only used briefly before...
I was in a hurry.
saw started cutting poorly. I realized something was wrong
and before I could get it out of the 5" tree the bar came off,
the chain slapped me in leg as it went flying through the air.
the bar nuts apparently were loose. both were off. I found one.

I've got bruised inner calf (red 6" long mark) and cut britches.
guys, this is embarrassing story... I grabbed bar and chain. it felt ok.. I didn't check nuts at all.

the bar, and housing around the bar were nearby.. the chain was 10 ft behind me... in some wood chips.
it apparently went between my calves.
what if?

I had truck keys with me. but truck was a few hundred yards away. had a cell phone with me. no one else on the premises.

earlier, I'd attached post hole auger to tractor to dig holes for new trees... the auger sure speeds up the process.
but again, I was taking a few shortcuts to try to expedite work process.

I've got to be more careful.

[Lowdown3]

I posted a pic here a few years ago of a bent bar I "made." "Made" it by accident going out in the wood lot while I was cutting weight and was way under caloric intake for that time of day. You make stupid decisions when you are like that.

Some others made fun of the "chaps" I wear when I cut trees, I told them I'd be laughing at them while I applied TQ to their half cut legs when they had a chainsaw accident.

Can't screw around with safety.

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

Complacency can kill ya...

I have had a few close calls as well, rr. As I age, I like to use the old adage of measure twice and cut once. Except I change it to look at the situation twice, think about every aspect twice and then proceed. This has kept me from doing some stupid stuff on occasion.

Glad to hear you are okay, but two words...Kevlar Chaps....lol :rolleyes: