Chainsaw personal protective equipment is what stands between a running chain and your body. A chainsaw chain moves fast enough to cut through ordinary clothing and skin before you can react, and most injuries hit the legs, hands and head. Good tree felling safety equipment covers you head to toe: a helmet with visor and ear muffs, chainsaw trousers or chaps, cut-resistant boots and gloves. This page explains each piece, the protection classes and what to keep in the first aid kit. Tell us what you need and dealers send you free quotes, with no obligation.
Head, eyes and ears
A forestry helmet protects against falling branches and kickback. Most come as a set with a mesh visor, which keeps chips out of your eyes while letting you see, and ear muffs, because a petrol saw is loud enough to damage hearing over time. Add safety glasses under the visor for fine dust. Replace a helmet after a hard knock or when the shell is faded and brittle from sun.
Chainsaw trousers and chaps
Chainsaw trousers and chainsaw chaps have layers of long fibres that pull out and jam the chain's drive when it touches them. Look for EN 381 or ISO 11393 marking. Key choices:
- Trousers are comfortable for all-day work; chaps strap over normal trousers and suit occasional users
- Front protection suits most ground work; all-round protection suits climbers
- Class 1 is rated for chain speeds up to 20 m/s; higher classes cover faster chains
A cut garment must be replaced; the fibres cannot be repaired.
Boots and gloves
Chainsaw boots have cut-resistant panels over the front and top of the foot as well as a steel or composite toe cap. Ordinary safety boots protect the toes only. Chainsaw gloves have cut protection on the back of the left hand, the hand most often hit by the chain. Choose a snug fit: loose gloves and boots cause slips. Boots with a deep, grippy sole help on bark, wet grass and slopes. Wear snug clothing on top, nothing loose that can catch in the chain, and a high-visibility vest where others work nearby or near a road.
First aid and working alone
Keep a first aid kit within reach with large wound dressings and a way to call for help. Never run a chainsaw alone where nobody can hear you. Gear is only half of it; training matters as much. When you compare tree fellers, ask to see their kit and training. Buying a saw? See chainsaws and chainsaw hire.
What to include in your request
- Which pieces you need
- Trouser waist and leg length
- Boot size
- Front or all-round protection
- Class matched to your saw
Chainsaw Safety Gear for different clients
- Homeowners: a helmet set and chaps for cutting up fallen branches and braai wood
- Estates, complexes and body corporates: kitting out the maintenance team who handle storm clean-up in the complex
- Farms, smallholdings and plantations: protective gear for farm workers cutting gums, wattle and firewood
- Businesses and commercial property: safety kit for grounds staff to meet workplace safety duties
- Schools, churches and municipalities: protective gear for municipal parks and school grounds chainsaw users
- Developers and building sites: kit for site teams cutting up trees and brush during clearing
- Servitudes and fire breaks: replacing worn trousers and helmets for servitude clearing crews
- Tree fellers, landscapers and garden services: tree fellers and garden services kitting out every saw operator
Frequently asked questions
How much does chainsaw protective clothing cost?
Are chainsaw chaps as good as chainsaw trousers?
What does Class 1 mean on chainsaw trousers?
Can you get me quotes for a full kit?
Chainsaw Safety Gear by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg