How to stay safe

• Wear eye and ear protection, gloves, tight-fitting clothing, cut-resistant leg chaps, boots, and a hard hat with a protective face screen.
• Keep the cutting chain properly sharpened, tensioned, and oiled. (Hint: Always have a second, sharpened chain on hand so that you can keep working when the first gets dull.)
• Grip the saw with both hands and keep both feet firmly on the ground.
• Saw only tree limbs you can reach from the ground. Never saw on a ladder or while holding the saw above your shoulders.
• Avoid sawing with the tip of the chain and bar, where kickback typically occurs. While plunge, boring, and other cuts that use the bar tip are essential for some kinds of sawing, they're for experienced users and raise the risk of kickback.
• Felling (cutting down) a tree is a job best left to the pros, particularly for trees larger than about 6 inches around. While trees often fall in the direction they're leaning, knowing where a tree will come down can be tricky. You'll also need two safe escape routes when the tree begins to fall. The Web site of the University of Missouri's extension center is among several with illustrated tree-felling techniques. Again, however, given the risks involved, we suggest calling a pro instead.
• Carry saws safely. For vehicles, secure them in the trunk or cargo area. Use a bar sheath or carrying case to protect yourself and the bar and chain. For hand-carrying, be sure that the engine is stopped and face the bar and chain to the rear. Also be sure the muffler is away from your body in case it's still hot.