Safety Measures; Working With Tree Service Chain-Saws From Rope And Harness - pellenc Selion C21 HD User Manual

SAFETY MEASURES

WORKING WITH TREE SERVICE CHAIN-SAWS FROM ROPE AND HARNESS

Overview
This annex sets out working practices aimed at reducing the risk of injury from tree service chain-saws
when working at height from a rope and harness. While it may form the basis of guidance and training
literature, it should not be regarded as a substitute for formal training. The guidance given in this annex is
only an example of best working practice. National laws and regulations should always be followed.
It presents
• general requirements that should be met before using a tree service chain-saw for work at height from a
rope and harness,
• preparations for using a tree service chain-saw from a rope and harness, and
• use of a tree service chain-saw for pruning and dismantling, including secure work positioning for two-
handed use, starting the chain-saw, cutting with the chain-saw, restrictions on one-handed use and freeing
a trapped saw.
General requirements
Operators of tree service chain-saws working at height from a rope and harness should never work alone.
A ground worker trained in appropriate emergency procedures should assist them.
Operators of tree service chain-saws for this work should be trained in general safe climbing and work
positioning techniques and be properly equipped with harnesses, ropes, strops, carabiners and other
equipment for maintaining secure and safe working positions for both themselves and the saw.
Preparing to use the saw in the tree
The chain-saw should be fitted with a suitable strop for
attachment to the operator's harness (see Figure E1):
a) secure the strop around the attachment point on the rear of
the saw;
b) provide suitable carabiners to allow indirect (i.e. via the
strop) and direct attachment (i.e. at the attachment point on
the saw) of the saw to the operator's harness;
c) ensure the saw is securely attached when it is being sent
up to the operator;
d) ensure the saw is secured to the harness before it is
disconnected from the means of ascent.
E1
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