Chainsaws – Landscaping Stats and Facts

FACTS

The primary hazards associated with chainsaw use can be grouped into several categories:

  1. Physical Injuries: Chainsaws can cause severe lacerations or cuts, often leading to significant blood loss.
  2. Kickback Injuries: This occurs when the tip of the chainsaw’s guide bar strikes an object or becomes pinched, causing the saw to suddenly and forcefully kick back toward the operator.
  3. Hearing Loss: Prolonged exposure to the high decibel levels of a chainsaw can cause permanent hearing loss if proper ear protection is not used.
  4. Vibration Injuries: Extended use of chainsaws can lead to hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS).
  5. Musculoskeletal Disorders: Improper lifting techniques, awkward positions, and extended use can lead to strains, sprains, and other musculoskeletal injuries.
  6. Falls: When using a chainsaw on a ladder or in a tree, the risk of falling is high.
  7. Fire Hazards: Chainsaws can produce sparks, especially when cutting metal or dry wood, which can ignite a fire in dry conditions.
  8. Chemical Exposure: Chainsaws run on gasoline and use oil for lubrication, both of which are hazardous chemicals.

STATS

  • Annual Injuries: In the United States, there are approximately 36,000 chainsaw-related injuries reported each year, with an annual medical cost exceeding $350 million.
  • Emergency Visits: From 2010 to 2019, there were about 282,000 emergency department visits due to chainsaw injuries in the U.S., averaging around 28,000 visits per year. Most of these injuries (about 94%) did not require hospital admission, although they still involved significant trauma.
  • Common Injury Sites: Injuries often affect the hands and fingers (33%), knees (20%), and lower legs (14%). These injuries typically occur during activities like tree felling, bucking, and limbing.
  • Fatal injuries from chainsaw accidents are relatively rare compared to nonfatal injuries, with fewer than 30 deaths annually in the U.S.
  • In Canada, while specific annual figures are harder to pinpoint, the risk and incidence rates are similarly high given the widespread use of chainsaws in forestry and landscaping industries.