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Home›Courses›Safety Training›Hand and Power Tools: Chainsaw Safety

Hand and Power Tools: Chainsaw Safety

20 minutesENSafety Training29 CFR 1910.266, 29 CFR 1910.242, ANSI B175.1
Quick Answer

Hand and Power Tools: Chainsaw Safety is a 20-minute online course that teaches employees safe chainsaw operation techniques, kickback prevention, and required personal protective equipment as addressed by OSHA standards including 29 CFR 1910.266 for logging operations and general hand tool safety requirements. It is designed for employees who use chainsaws in forestry, landscaping, utility, and maintenance work and includes a downloadable certificate of completion.

Course Overview

Chainsaws are among the most dangerous power tools used in the workplace, capable of cutting at speeds exceeding 60 miles per hour at the chain tip. Chainsaw-related injuries frequently involve deep lacerations, amputations, and fatalities - with kickback being the single most common cause of serious chainsaw injuries. OSHA's logging operations standard (29 CFR 1910.266) includes specific chainsaw safety requirements for logging operations, including mandatory cut-resistant leg protection, chain brake requirements, and operator training. For employers outside the logging industry, general hand tool safety standards under 29 CFR 1910.242 and the General Duty Clause apply to all chainsaw operations.

This course equips your chainsaw operators with the knowledge to prevent the most common and severe chainsaw injuries. It covers proper starting procedures, cutting techniques, kickback prevention, and chain maintenance. Your team will learn the required personal protective equipment - including cut-resistant chaps, hearing protection, eye and face protection, and head protection - along with the pre-use inspection procedures that identify worn chains, damaged bar guards, and faulty chain brakes before they cause injuries.

What You'll Learn

  • OSHA chainsaw safety requirements under 29 CFR 1910.266 and general tool safety standards
  • Chainsaw kickback causes, reactive forces, and prevention techniques
  • Required personal protective equipment - cut-resistant leg protection, head, eye, face, and hearing protection
  • Safe starting procedures including chain brake engagement and proper body positioning
  • Cutting techniques for felling, limbing, and bucking operations
  • Pre-use inspection procedures for chains, bars, chain brakes, and safety features
  • Chain maintenance, sharpening, and tension adjustment

Who Needs This Training

  • Forestry and logging workers who operate chainsaws as part of timber operations
  • Landscaping and tree service employees performing tree trimming and removal
  • Utility line clearance workers using chainsaws near overhead power lines
  • Municipal public works crews clearing storm damage and maintaining right-of-way
  • Farm and ranch workers using chainsaws for land management and fence clearing
  • Maintenance and facility workers who occasionally use chainsaws for property upkeep

Regulatory Background

OSHA's logging operations standard (29 CFR 1910.266) contains the most detailed chainsaw safety requirements in federal regulation. It requires employers to ensure that chainsaw operators wear cut-resistant leg protection covering the full length of the thigh to the top of the boot, along with head, eye, face, and hearing protection. Chainsaws placed into service after the standard's effective date must be equipped with chain brakes meeting ANSI B175.1 requirements, and all chainsaws must have anti-kickback devices. The standard mandates proper starting procedures, prohibits cutting directly overhead, and requires operators to maintain secure footing and proper hand position at all times. While 29 CFR 1910.266 applies specifically to logging operations, OSHA has interpreted the standard to also cover commercial tree trimming and cutting operations. For all other employers, chainsaw safety falls under general hand tool requirements (29 CFR 1910.242) and the General Duty Clause. Serious violations carry penalties up to $16,550, and willful violations reach $165,514. The logging industry consistently ranks among the most hazardous occupations, with a fatality rate many times the national average.

Frequently Asked Questions

Under 29 CFR 1910.266(d)(1)(iv), chainsaw operators in logging operations must wear cut-resistant leg protection (such as chainsaw chaps) covering the full length of the thigh to the top of the boot on each leg. Exceptions exist for operators working from bucket trucks or climbing positions where leg protection creates a greater hazard. For non-logging employers, OSHA's General Duty Clause and PPE standards support the requirement for appropriate protective clothing during chainsaw operations.
Kickback occurs when the upper portion of the bar nose contacts an object or when the chain becomes pinched, causing the bar to violently rotate upward and back toward the operator. It is the leading cause of serious chainsaw injuries. Prevention measures include maintaining a sharp chain with proper tension, using low-kickback chain, keeping the chain brake functional and engaged during starting, avoiding contact with the bar nose tip, and maintaining a firm grip with both hands on the handles at all times.
Yes. OSHA has issued an interpretation letter confirming that 29 CFR 1910.266 applies to commercial tree cutting and trimming operations, not just forest-based logging. The hazards addressed by the standard - falling trees, chainsaw injuries, struck-by incidents - are present regardless of whether the work occurs in a forest or a residential neighborhood. OSHA did not exempt commercial tree trimming from the standard's coverage.
Under 29 CFR 1910.266(e)(2), chainsaws placed into service after the standard's effective date must meet ANSI B175.1 requirements, which include a chain brake, anti-kickback device, continuous pressure throttle control, and a chain catch pin. All chainsaws must be operated and adjusted per manufacturer instructions, fueled at least 10 feet from any ignition source, and started with the chain brake engaged.
For logging operations, 29 CFR 1910.266(i) requires employers to provide training for all employees in the safe performance of their assigned duties, including chainsaw operation. Appendix B to the standard outlines the minimum content for logging training programs. For non-logging employers, training is required under the General Duty Clause obligation to protect employees from recognized hazards and under the PPE training requirements of 29 CFR 1910.132(f).

Related Courses

Employers whose crews use chainsaws regularly often pair this course with Hand and Power Tools: Best Practices for broader tool safety coverage and with Eye Protection: Hazards and Prevention to ensure compliance with the eye and face protection requirements that apply to all chainsaw operations.

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$24.95
per person
Volume Pricing
Team Size Price per Person
1 - 9$24.95
10 - 24$19.95
25 - 49$17.95
50 - 99$17.50
Subtotal $24.95

Certificate of completion included. Downloadable upon passing the final assessment.

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$24.95
per person