Is Your Chainsaw Protective Clothing Meeting PPE Requirements?

Do you use a chainsaw for work - and if so, does your clothing meet PPE requirements? Chainsaw protective clothing is your last line of defence against a serious or even fatal injury - and it’s also required by law.

In this article, we’ll explain how the right PPE is essential for safety and compliance, and explore the best protective gear for chainsaw operators.

Why people using chainsaws must wear PPE

Even with full training, operating a chainsaw carries a risk of injury. Specialist PPE safeguards the body parts most likely to come into contact with the blade (your legs, feet, and hands) but also protects your ears from loud noise and your eyes and lungs from dust and debris.

Legal compliance is another key reason for wearing the right PPE. By law, appropriate protective clothing is required whenever you use a chainsaw - and employers have a legal requirement to provide it where a risk exists.

Whether you use a chainsaw for professional or personal use, you must always wear chainsaw PPE.

What makes chainsaw PPE clothing different from other Personal Protective Equipment?

Because chainsaws can cause such catastrophic injuries, chainsaw PPE clothing is constructed differently from other types of protective gear.

Chainsaw trousers are made from multiple layers of fabric with densely woven fibres. If the blade makes contact with the fabric, it instantly catches and pulls out the fibres, which get tangled around the drive sprocket - stopping the blade before it causes a deep cut.

Specialist chainsaw gloves work in a similar way, while chainsaw boots also have multiple layers of high-tensile fibres alongside extra protective features. Chainsaw PPE also includes mesh face shields to protect forestry and arboriculture workers from flying debris.

Chainsaw protection gear is governed by the EN ISO 11393 international standard. This is divided into several parts:

• 11393-2: Leg protection
• 11393-3: Footwear
• 11393-4 Gloves
• 11393-5: Protective gaiters
• 11393-6: Upper body protection

EN ISO 11393 replaced the older BS EN 381 standard, although you can still wear existing EN 381-certified gear as long as it is in undamaged condition.

Here are a few other safety standards for PPE:

• EN ISO 17249: Chainsaw protective boots
• BS EN 12492 / EN 397: Hard hats for off-ground work
• BS EN 352: Hearing protection
• EN ISO 16321-3: Mesh visors
• EN ISO 16321-1: Safety glasses or goggles

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) also offers guidance on chainsaw safety, including the need for PPE.

Are there different types of chainsaw trousers?

Although all items of chainsaw PPE are necessary, protective trousers are particularly important due to the major arteries found in the legs. Let’s take a look at the various designs and types of chainsaw trousers available.

Chainsaw trousers are categorised by class and by design. Each class offers protection against a different level of chainsaw speed:

• Class 0: 16 metres per second
• Class 1: 20 m/s
• Class 2: 24 m/s
• Class 3: 28 m/s

Class 1 is the industry standard, while Classes 2 and 3 are used for heavy-duty professional applications. Class 0 would typically be for chainsaw gloves only.

Two designs are used for chainsaw trousers in the UK. Design A protects the front of the legs, and Design C offers wrap-around protection to cover the back of the legs as well. (If you’re wondering what happened to Design B, that’s for protective chaps and is not sold in the UK).

Some chainsaw trousers are designed specifically for left-handed, right-handed, or ambidextrous users. For example, if you hold the saw in your right hand, you’ll need extra protection on the left leg where the blade would make contact.

You also have options in terms of features, such as waterproofing, insulation, stretch panels, and pockets.

Top tip: Using a chainsaw at night or in low-light conditions? Hi-vis chainsaw trousers are the ideal way to enhance your safety. If you’re working on the railway, you’ll need orange hi-vis rated for RIS-3279-TOM.

Do you have a chainsaw PPE checklist?

Yes, we do! Besides your chainsaw trousers, here are our recommendations for the chainsaw safety equipment you need to stay safe:

✅ Hard hat

Whether you’re working at ground level or high in a tree, a hard hat protects you against falls or falling branches. Our JSP forestry helmets are compatible with various accessories, including hearing and eye protection - some are sold as kits so you have everything you need.

✅ Eye protection

You’ll need safety specs or goggles to keep dust and fluids out of your eyes. Buy protection that’s compatible with your hard hat, or go for a helmet with integrated eye protection.

✅ Face protection

Visors or face shields are essential for chainsaw work, when debris can easily fly into your face. Again, it makes sense to consider hard hats with visors built in.

✅ Hearing protection

A chainsaw engine is loud enough to damage your hearing, especially if you use the tool all day - so ear defenders are a must. Check out this video to find out what kind of ear defenders to wear with your hard hat:

✅ Gloves

Chainsaw gloves don’t just protect your hands from the blade - the best ones also enhance your grip on the saw while guarding against cold, vibration, and impact.

✅ Boots

Vital for stopping the blade from cutting through to your foot, chainsaw boots offer a number of other handy features. The Stein Defender V2 is water-repellent, perforation-resistant, and insulated against extreme cold and heat. Its excellent grip reduces the risk of slipping while holding the chainsaw.

✅ Mask

The right mask will prevent you breathing in wood dust and exhaust fumes from the chainsaw’s engine. A disposable dust mask is OK for occasional chainsaw use, but professionals will want a respirator such as the JSP Force8 half-face mask.

✅ Optional extras

• Throat guard: Extra protection from flying dirt and debris.

• Neck cape: Protect your neck from the sun and rain.

Top tip: Wearing the right PPE will protect you from serious injury, but it’s always best to keep a chainsaw first aid kit on hand in case the worst happens. These bleed control kits typically attach to harnesses or belts, ensuring the contents are always within reach.

When should I replace chainsaw PPE clothing?

Like any PPE, chainsaw clothing can’t do its job properly if it’s worn or damaged. You must replace your trousers, boots, or gloves immediately if they get damaged by the saw, and your hard hat after any significant impact.

Watch out for any dip in performance from your ear defenders, or wear and tear on the other accessories. Fading or wear can actually weaken the plastic of hard hats.

It’s also important to keep your chainsaw trousers clean, as excess dirt in the fabric can cause the fibres to stick together - meaning they won’t be pulled out in the event of contact with the blade.

Stay safe by wearing legally-required chainsaw PPE

Every time you use a chainsaw, even if it’s just for a few minutes, you need to wear chainsaw PPE. Not only can it save your life - it’s also a legal requirement.

Our huge collection of chainsaw PPE clothing and accessories, including trousers, gloves, and helmets, will help you to stay compliant and protect yourself from danger.