Safe Start

Do not think because an accident hasn’t happened to you that it can’t happen.

Starting a Chainsaw Safely

There are three safe and good options for starting a saw:

• Put the saw on the ground, place your boot in the handle to stabilize the saw, then pull.
• Put the saw on the ground, place your knee on top of it to stabilize the saw, then pull.
• Pinch the saw handle in your legs to stabilize the saw, then pull.

You see a lot of folks using a drop start. That is when the chainsaw is held with one hand and the recoil rope with the other. Both arms are moving when the saw is started. This technique is not safe, OSHA will fine you, and you will need to replace the recoil rope frequently.