<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div>Hi ChainPoints,</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Stats show that the legs have become the most susceptible chainsaw laceration body location. Read the latest article below. Chap Up...</div><div><br></div><div>Ever wonder if that tree can reach your house? You can know with a simple tool from our eStore. The Forest Applications Cross-Sight.</div><div><br></div><div>Thinking about a chainsaw training workshop for your friends or associates? Their are some open dates in June and July. Contact <a href="mailto:Laura@forestapps.com">Laura@forestapps.com</a> for details.</div><div><br></div><div>Have a great week!</div><br><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; "><i>Good Sawing,</i></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; "><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; "><i><b>Tim Ard</b></i></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; "><a href="mailto:timard@forestapps.com">timard@forestapps.com</a></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; "><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; ">(O) 770.222.2511</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; "><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; "><a href="http://www.ForestApps.com">www.ForestApps.com</a></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; ">Twitter - @ForestApps</div></div></span>
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<br><div><!--StartFragment--><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial">Chap Up…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial">By Tim Ard, Forest Applications Training, Inc.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Chainsaw operators for many
years have known about the positive aspects of the leg protective saw chap.
Every month though it seems I come across people that didn’t know chaps are
available and don’t understand how they work nor their ever increasing need to
put them on.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Loggers in the Western USA
and the US Forest Service have been using them for decades now and they are
increasing in popularity in all the states. Why you say? Because it hurts to be
cut by a chainsaw and many of the injuries happen to the operators legs.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Leg protection garments work
from what is called the process of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">jamming</i>.
The fiber padding in the chap leg is designed to pull out and jam the chainsaw
chain, bar and sprocket to slow the speed of the saw chain and intentionally
stop the chain rotation. The process doesn’t mean in every situation that chaps
will prevent injury but the intention is to give reaction time and hopefully
reduce the injury should the accident occur. I hear almost weekly testimonies
of how chaps prevented cuts in accident situations.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Most all leg protection
garments have a layered pad of what is called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:
normal">ballistic nylon</i>. These nylon fibers are used in bullet resistant
body armor, thus the term ballistic came about. Some are out of a fiber that is
white in color and often called warp-knit. Some of the first on the market were
from DuPont’s Kevlar® which is a yellow colored fiber. Some others have a
combination of both fibers. The fiber is important but the real ability to work
with the saw chain is how it’s woven and how the multiple layers are
constructed in the pad.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial">A relatively new padding on
the market is available from Elvex Safety. The fiber combination is called
Elvex Prolar®. This Prolar® material, used in their leg protection products, is
designed specifically for chainsaw leg protection. The material when hit by the
moving saw chain pulls out and wraps the saw drive system as others but then it
appears to explode (so to speak, it expands) and jams quickly. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Times;
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">The result is a new generation Elvex ProChaps tested
in compliance by Underwriter’s Laboratories in accordance with ASTM F-1414,
Measurement of Cut Resistance to Chain Saw Lower Body Protective Clothing. <a href="http://www.elvex.com/forestry-safety-videos.htm">http://www.elvex.com/forestry-safety-videos.htm</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">It is important too that
leg chaps are comfortable and the design is such that it covers the legs in a
fashion that reduces the chance of twist. If the straps are uncomfortable or
the position of the leg pad is not positioned correctly, the chain will find
its way to your leg. A design that seems to work best with this twist
possibility is one called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">asymmetric</i>.
The pad is positioned slightly to the left of the chap leg to aid in preventing
the twist, giving more coverage area and reaction time.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Outer materials of the
garment you choose is related to the amount of wear you plan. There are lighter
weight and heavy weight outer materials, usually of Cordura® fabrics. The pads
are the same, so it doesn't effect their protection. There are a variety of
sizes and lengths however that can effect safe coverage. You want to make sure
to cover from your groin area to the top of your footwear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Also available are full wrap designs
that cover the back of the leg, your calf area.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Two labels important to
look for when purchasing are the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">testing
classification</i> label and the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">care</i>
instruction label. Make sure your chaps are designed for chainsaw protection
and that you can easily clean them when they become soiled. Dirty, oil soaked
protection pads may reduce the ability for the chain to pull out the jamming
fibers and enable it to better cut through. Keep them clean…</p><p class="MsoNormal">My emphasis during
training workshops is to never use your saw without Leg Protection and other important
PPE items of Head, Hand, Eye, Ear, Face and Foot Protection. The ever-increasing
need I wrote of earlier is simply - it costs more to repair you, a friend or
family member, than ever before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Make
sure you have it and use it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">For more information visit
our website <a href="http://www.ForestApps.com">www.ForestApps.com</a></p><p class="MsoNormal">© Copyright 2011 Forest
Applications Training, Inc. </p>
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