Be Careful Cutting Firewood!

[Thewife]

Sylvie, so sorry to hear about your neighbor.
My sister lost a neighbor to falling a tree for firewood this season too.

I used to hunt with a logger. The stories he told me, have left me too scared to even try to fall trees anymore. I will cut them up, but I won't fall them.

Another friend was using a splitting maul. A tiny sliver shot off and embedded in his eye. It cost him $200+ to have a Dr use a magnat to get it out.

To add to Bekissed warning about log splitters!
STAND BACK and make sure the little teethy things that hold the end of the log in place, are digging into the whole log! I had one the other day that wasn't. On a pain scale of 1 to 10, I would rate it 100!
That sucker popped out and slammed my thigh with such force, I thought I was going to pass out. It still hurts to walk and even a hanky in my sweatpants pockets hurts like heck!

Oh and my shins are so beat up from getting hit by chuncks falling off the wood spiltter, I can't pull up my socks, hurts too much to have anything touch them.

 

[dragonlaurel]

Sylvie, so sorry to hear about your neighbor.
My sister lost a neighbor to falling a tree for firewood this season too.

I used to hunt with a logger. The stories he told me, have left me too scared to even try to fall trees anymore. I will cut them up, but I won't fall them.

Another friend was using a splitting maul. A tiny sliver shot off and embedded in his eye. It cost him $200+ to have a Dr use a magnat to get it out.

To add to Bekissed warning about log splitters!
STAND BACK and make sure the little teethy things that hold the end of the log in place, are digging into the whole log! I had one the other day that wasn't. On a pain scale of 1 to 10, I would rate it 100!
That sucker popped out and slammed my thigh with such force, I thought I was going to pass out. It still hurts to walk and even a hanky in my sweatpants pockets hurts like heck!

Oh and my shins are so beat up from getting hit by chuncks falling off the wood spiltter, I can't pull up my socks, hurts too much to have anything touch them.

Ouch! That hurts to think about. Your need safety glasses and heavy chaps too, I guess. I don't mind cutting up the stuff that's already down. The other part makes me nervous unless you can use a truck and a strong chain to make it go to a safer spot.

 

[FarmerChick]

That is just horrible!
Sorry for the family's loss. That is just tragic!

 

[sufficientforme]

As a kid we had firewood duty with Dad (which we hated) and one time he was cutting a tree and the saw kicked back and cut to the bone straight across the leg above the knee, could have chopped the whole leg off, I was so freaked and the blood was squirting out the leg and he had to drive a stick shift to the hospital (I was maybe 10) I will never forget that day, yuck. Not long after that my parents installed a pellet stove.

 

[Big Daddy]

Some of this stuff sounds like a safety class is in order. I know there's not much you can do with a hanger. But the logs falling on your feet. There's a lot of nice sturdy work boots with steel toes that will protect your shins and your feet. Safety goggles and face shields work wonders too. Don't forget the nice heavy gloves too.

Well I got to go snarf down a six pack. I have a bunch of wood to cut for the hen house before the snows come. Be careful and remember to keep safety stops in place on those wood chippers.

 

[sufficientforme]

My Dad always wore steel toed boots, a heavy leather apron looking thing and leather gloves. He always preaching at us about safety, it was a fluke, accidents happen, so sad to hear others stories.

 

[Beekissed]

Any of you ladies want to buy some brand new Chippewa steel toed boots?

My sis gave them to me because she didn't like the heel on them....cost her $189!!!!!

Will sell real cheap!

(Seemed like an opportune time to plug steel-toed boots, ya know?)

 

[Big Daddy]

As a kid we had firewood duty with Dad (which we hated) and one time he was cutting a tree and the saw kicked back and cut to the bone straight across the leg above the knee, could have chopped the whole leg off, I was so freaked and the blood was squirting out the leg and he had to drive a stick shift to the hospital (I was maybe 10) I will never forget that day, yuck. Not long after that my parents installed a pellet stove.

Stuff like you described here is a bit of a fluke. Guys that truly do it for a living and work for a company that has to worry about OSHA would have more training as to where to stand and using a saw fitted for the job. Chainsaws are dangerous as hell. With proper training and the use of proper safety devices they are a lot safer.

My earlier comment was more directed towards easily preventable accidents like dropping logs on feet or splinters or nails in eyes.