7 Kinds of Personal Protective Equipment Every Sawyer Needs

If you had to guess what the most dangerous job is, would you say aircraft pilot, oil rig worker, or miner? What about farmer, power lineman, or crane operator? According to Industrial Safety & Hygiene News (ISHN), all of these jobs are considered among the 25 most dangerous.

The job that tops the list, however, is logging worker. In the United States, the accident rate of logging workers is 33 times the national average. The most common causes of fatal accidents include contact with logging machines or logs. Loggers also work around noisy equipment and a variety of sharp tools.

The job of a logger is different than that of a sawyer. However, sawyers do work with logs as well as all kinds of loud equipment that has sharp edges. For this reason, it’s important for sawyers to make safety a priority while as they are milling.

To stay as safe as possible while milling, here are 7 kinds of personal protective equipment that sawyers should always use. (Please know that as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases when you use the links provided. There is no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting SawmillCentral by using our links when making your purchases.)

1. Over the Head Ear Muffs

It should come to no surprise that loud noise is one of the most common causes of hearing loss. Every time a sawyer is milling, they are exposed to loud noises. Sawyers who have been exposed to noises over 70 decibels (dB) and for at least 10 years, are at a higher risk of hearing loss.

Here are some noise levels for common pieces of equipment a sawyer might use:

• Chainsaw - 106 to 120 dB

• Circular saw – 103 to 113 dB

• Grinder – 95 to 109 dB

• Heavy equipment – 95 to 110 dB

These decibel levels can be compared to a rock concert. These levels are also up to 16 times louder than a freight train heard from 100 feet away.

There is no time like to present for sawyers to start protecting their hearing. It’s recommended for sawyers to wear over the head earmuffs that have a noise reduction rating of at least 30 dB. Sawyers that want the added convenience of making and taking phone calls without taking off their headset, or who want to listen to music while they work, should consider hearing protection with Bluetooth technology.

2. Safety Glasses

Along with protecting their hearing, sawyers also need to protect their vision. When a sawyer is milling, there might be tiny pieces of wood or sawdust flying everywhere. Worse yet, if a piece of equipment fails, shards of metal could go flying well. Unfortunately, eye injuries are much too common. In the United States alone, 20,000 work-related eye injuries occur each year. Wearing protective eyewear could prevent about 90 percent of these injuries. When the eye becomes injured, it increases the chance of permanent eye damage, vision loss, and even blindness.

Wearing the proper safety glasses is the best way for sawyers to protect their eyes. When choosing safety glasses, make sure they are specifically designed to protect the eyes from debris and dust, have approval from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and have peripheral coverage. To ensure the safety glasses won’t break or become damaged, the frames should be made with hard nylon and the lenses made with highly durable polycarbonate. The lenses should also be scratch-resistant and offer ultra violet (UV) protection.

3. Loggers Helmet

For sawyers who want the protection that safety glasses and ear muffs provide but don’t want to mess around wearing two different things, a loggers helmet is a good choice. A loggers helmet not only protects the eyes and ears, but it also offers protection for the head and face.

When working with wood and large logs, it’s not uncommon for a sawyer to take a blow to the head. This could happen simply from a piece of wood falling off a woodpile. While these helmets were designed for loggers, anyone that works with a chainsaw or sawmill reap the benefits of wearing one.

4. Steel Toe Boots

When working with logs, lumber, and various kinds of equipment, there is always the chance of dropping something on the feet. There is also the chance of ramming a foot into a hard object or having a sharp object pierce through the shoe.

Sometimes sawyers need to walk on rough or uneven terrain, which increases the chances of slipping or falling. Sawyers might also need to stand for long periods of time on a concrete floor. For these reasons, sawyers should always wear steel toe boots when they are milling.

When shopping for a pair of steel toe boots make sure:

• They are the right size.

• They extend well past the ankles.

• They are worn with the right socks.

Sawyers should also ensure the boots are waterproof and that they meet the protective footwear guidelines put forth by the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM). Steel toe boots offer the best protection for the feet, as well as comfort, support, and stability. This type of safety gear might be expensive, but they are definitely worth the investment.

5. Leather Gloves

The hands are one part of the body that are the most susceptible to injuries. Every year, one million workers are treated in the ER for some kind of hand injury. The most common kinds of hand injuries include lacerations, crush injuries, and fractures. Sawyers are especially at risk for hand injuries as they not only work with their hands all day long, but they often handle very sharp objects with their hands.

The best way for sawyers to protect their hands is to wear leather gloves. These gloves should adhere to EN 388 standards. The leather gloves should fit properly without being too bulky. Absorbing vibration and having reliable grip control are also things sawyers should look for when buying the right gloves.

6. Chaps or Leg Protection

Another part of the body that is susceptible to injury is the legs. Falling objects, being struck by equipment, or getting caught between objects or equipment can all cause leg injuries. Lacerations are another kind of injury that can be caused by chainsaw kickback or other accidents with sharp tools and equipment.

To best protect the legs from lacerations, many sawyers choose to wear chaps. This type of personal protective equipment is made with cut-resistant material. Protective chaps are worn over a regular pair of pants. The best chaps also have knee pads and meet OSHA safety standards.

7. Tight Clothing Instead of Loose or Baggy

When operating a sawmill, it’s easy for loose clothing to get caught in the sawmill blade. For this reason, it’s imperative that sawyers wear tight clothing instead of things that are loose or baggy. Sawyers that work in warmer weather may be tempted to wear a t-shirt, but instead they should wear a tight-fitting long-sleeved shirt so that their arms will be somewhat protected.

In colder weather sawyers may want to wear a jacket. Unfortunately, there are no jackets that prevent cuts and lacerations. For sawyers who do want to wear a jacket, a tight-fitting jacket is usually recommended.

Sometimes sawyers get in a hurry as they may be running out of daylight, they have a deadline to meet, or it’s getting too hot outside. In these instances, it can be tempting to forgo wearing their personal protection equipment. This is never a good idea, however, as it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Sawyers that use the above kinds of PPE can reduce their chances of having an accident and getting injured in the process.