Why I Wear a Hardhat - The Incident
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 13 июл 2024
- Ever since the incident, I have been wearing a hardhat when using a chainsaw, logging, and working in the woods. When I started running a chainsaw I did not wear a hardhat. I thought they were uncomfortable and didn’t want to wear one. I had a close call while timber falling that changed my opinion. I even wear them when there is no danger of anything falling on my head. One of the purposes of a hard hat is protection from chainsaw kickback. Sometimes I even wear one when I am running my Woodmizer LT15 sawmill. 
Хобби
Never argue with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience .
Enjoy your vids
I always like that one, thanks for reminding me of it. I don’t argue with them much. I just use them for entertaining content.
I wear a hard hat because it keeps my earmuffs and face shield from falling on the ground. I wear a face shield, because I don't need THAT much fiber in my diet.
You got my attention. I've had an old aluminum hard hat in my garage for years. I'm ordering new suspension for it tomorrow and I'll be wearing it when I cut firewood from now on. Thanks for a great safety lesson.
Now you can be one of the cool kids. 😁
Buried a home owner chainsaw user once. His saw kicked back and split his cranium about !/4 of the way through. It can be ugly, I always have been impressed with your level of safety. I again thank you for this.
Yikes. Not sure a hardhat would have kept the kickback from causing an injury but it might have kept it from being deadly. As an aside for anyone else watching this video, not only should you have a hardhat you should also have a mesh face shield and saw chaps. Make sure the chaps are rated for electric saws if that's what you have, because an electric saw will torque right through what will bind up a gas saw.
I can wait for first hand experience....or learn directly from second hand experience. You just don't argue with sound advice.
I like how you coined the term “ those RUclips shorts “, good one 😅
Quite a similar story happened to one of my chainsaw instructors - he had been working in the woods, teaching some students, when like in your case, a stick, no thicker than a finger, fell down point first and smacked him right on the head - He had been wearing a hard hat and that saved him, but our designs looked more like a firefighter's helmets, so it slid on the side of the helmet and smacked him on top of the shoulder.
Even after loosing some energy with that initial hit, it left him with a bruise the size of a fist and he couldn't use that arm properly for days.
After hearing that story we didn't need much convincing to keep our hats on. Most people just don't understand how mass+velocity works and how nasty a little branch may be.
Absolutely love the channel. Similarly with me, it took a real scare from a fallen object from above to embed the ground between my feet to start wearing a hard hat. Thank you for your efforts.
Not sure why it takes close calls to teach us, but fortunately we learned. Thank you for the comment.
On two separate occasions, I have had my hat slapped clean off my pointed head. Once I got slammed down in a m60 series tank at 35mph... each time it was due to others I was working around... My rule is that everyone is responsible for their own safety...the Brain Bucket, Head Sled, Headache Hat has saved me thousands of dollars in medical repairs...all of my safety equipment is cheaper than 15min in the ER. And I look stylish.
@samb Look better/ feel better, as the barber says.
DOUG out
When I see a guy in a hard hat I know he's a hard working blue collar professional. Either that or one of the village people.
Mike, you forgot to mention the reason Rick and Tim were wearing hard hats was because we observed you on your channel wearing a comfortable, light, cool as in airflow and cool looking Forester hardhat. I've been working in the woods for close to 50 years. Only wearing the "bulky hardhats" when required by the job. Thankfully wearing this hardhat doesn't require much getting used to. The tree that hit us was 20 yards behind us and the tree we were taking down. Completely unexpected. As for the short comments......every time we show a video where we have a small camp fire in the woods we get comments like.....GO AHEAD SET THE WOODS ON FIRE!....or.... THATS HOW FOREST FIRES GET STARTED....as an ex-forest fire fighter, I think we know what we are doing 😒 Keep up the great videos.
You did such a good job of telling the story of why you were the hardhats, I just left it at that. I will likely be doing som slash burning this winter. Maybe I will have to put some over on RUclips shorts to see what kind of comments I will get from them.
There's always some trolls who have to put their two cents in, even though they don't know what they are talking about.
Not sure how common they are in the US, but in Europe there are hard hats for forestry work, which include a mesh visor for eye protection and hearing protection. Further there are pants with a cutproof layer instead of chaps, since the pants don't slide around and won't limit mobility - they feel like some normal pants, just warmer. Perfect since most forest work here takes place in the awfully long winter. It doesn't stop here, there are also cutproof boots. Same as the pants they contain some kevlar fibers stopping the chain when you try hitting those bugs around you with the saw and accidentally get too close to your limbs... Plus gloves for a better grip and warmer hands. Although my main saw has heated handles, but there's still work to be done that requires gripping other objects. Wedges, axes and the like.
Those are the minimum items that are definitely on me when I start a chainsaw. Even if it's just an electric one to "quickly remove that bush over there". No worries, there are still plenty options left to get killed in an accident, but if I can avoid stretching my luck, I'll do it.
Don't know why but I red your post hearing a Swedish accent (hope that isn't offensive) in my head having been there only once. Living at the opposite end of the world, trees are still dangerous. Always scared around a dead bug gumtree.
@@nickabbott6278 No offence taken. I'm not living in Sweden but close by in Finland. Although I'm neither of those nationalities...
Take care, dead branches dropping down are no joke.
My helmet saved my life. Spring pole caught me in the helmet in 2013.
If you have nothing to protect- you don’t need a hard hat. When I see some of the “hardhat haters” on n RUclips, I understand why they don’t need one.
An idiot told me I needed PPE to enter the library 1 year ago.
I wore my aluminum full brim helmet, corks, gloves, safety glasses, and ear plugs.
He then yelled at me for not having a mask.
Then his boss yelled at me for my corks.
@john some people, right? Who died and made them King? 😢
DOUG out
If it's good enough for Smokey the Bear it's good enough for me. Here in NZ they call those falling branches sailors.
Im just gonna drop one right here before I even watch because I know why. I've seen saw hands walk back out of the woods and into the loader set with hardhats busted and teeth chipped from falling limbs that were pretty small relatively speaking. If they hadn't had a hardhat on I don't think I would have seen them walk out.
We all remember the story about when the British introduced helmets in the First World War, that the incidence of head injuries went up, because they weren't dead.
Yep, those RUclips short guys are a bit simple. I think it might have to do with their attention span. Short. Great stuff Mr Wilson, your videos can even teach a simple Australian a thing or two, keep ‘em up.
My grandpa worked in the woods before the days of hardhats. His hat was only made of wool and looked like a fedora. One day on the job a sharp stick came down out of a tree he was sawing and hit him in the head. It was only about as big around as your finger but it went through his skull and came out his eye socket before going into his nose. It popped his eye out. He was two hours out in the woods the only way out was by speeder. He was lucky. The doctor had to cut the stick out of his head, and was able to put his eye back in the socket. By some miracle his eye was not hurt, but he lived the rest of his life with a metal plate in his skull. Believe me hard hats were one of the first things the unions addressed and as soon as gramps could get one he got one. He never went into the woods without his "tin lid" as he called it. He also had sawed off pants and custom made cork boots cause he was short and wore a size 4 boot. His story is just one of many I know about family and friends injured while logging. It's a dangerous business and I am thankful there are still guys like you out there doing the job, but practicing better safety while doing it. My step dad died because of logging, he had his skull broken and his front teeth knocked out because a guy set his chokers badly. They came off the tree and smacked him in the head. He survived and went back to the woods. The injury caused him to develope a brain tumor which he died of when I was 15. Life in a logging family is tough, and odds are the longer you log the more likely for injury, even when being careful, so stay sharp and I'll pray every day God keeps you safe.
what no shoulder and knee pads , nut cup for sure, just fun, thanks again for vids
Nope, and I have another confession to make. I am not wearing steel toed boots. Or my chainsaw chaps. all of that slipped by those RUclips shorts guys. 😁
THANKS BUDDY. Now I wanna go buy a hardhat. 🤣👍🍻
Do it, everybody’s doing it, it’ll make you feel good. 😁
@@WilsonForestLands There's a tune clled "Helmet" by The Bobs. It's very good and it's on YT. And it perfectly captures the mentality of wearing protective headgear.
Love "The Princess Bride" reference @1:57!
Very important topic and another great video! Interestingly, I was at a fair this past weekend and they had some woods work demonstrations. I went to see the directional felling talk and the first thing the instructor talked about was safety and specifically the hard hat. He said when you buy a hat to make sure it has five bands of support rather than four due to the added impact protection. When I got home I checked my hat and of course found only four straps. When you took your hat off in the video, I'm not sure, but I think I only saw 2 straps, something to consider I guess.
It is something to consider. These old hardhats are not up to modern standards. I do think about upgrading to a modern version of this style. Thanks for the comment, a good tip there.
When i was starting out my career in forestry in late 70s the hardhats were not a requirement but i made it one when one of my sawyers cut a tree and about the last 4 or 5 inches of the 40 ft tree( basically the bud of tree) hit me on shoulder and it felt like i had been hit with sledge hammer. I believe if it had hit me in head i would have been in big trouble! Glad i learned early and first hand the dangers of tree hitting you!
Excellent summary on a critical piece of safety equipment. Anyone who has worked in the woods with a chainsaw can appreciate the importance of this information. One day I was using my mini-excavator in the woods and a large limb fell on my roof (open cab). It would have crushed me for sure. Since that day I am always wearing a helmet when working in the woods regardless if I am using a power saw. I own several commercial (Husq, Stihl) hardhats with face shields. Do you feel the loggers hardhat offers better protection? Again, thanks for your great content and advice. This weekend 'logger' appreciates all you do on my behalf.
Very entertaining, nice work
40 years ago framing a house I was banging on the bottom of a 8' wall when a 3" piece of 2x4 came off the top plate and hit me in the top of the head, almost knocked me out. Doesn't take much.
I have some acres of trees, I work in an operating theatre therefore I always want a hard hat if I am amongst the trees, even if I'm not cutting.
Great video on the benefits of wearing a hard hat. Perhaps has saved many, many lives. I always wore mine working as a cutter. You never know when a branch will fall.
Or another way to put it, branches always fall, you never know when one is going to be above your head.
I like your walking intros and enjoy the funny side and you experience you are passing on. I only a little experience with tree felling ;-) My family were Blacksmiths which is less dangerous than what you do.
i can tell you must spend a lot of time to refine / editing a video before uploading a quality experience for me to watch.
Thanks
After dropping a tree once a 2 inch diameter limb dropped out of the sky from nowhere hit across both arms as I was carry the chainsaw ...I was wearing a hardhat because it was required. But I've always been bull headed and when I'm doing any of that work for myself I never wear any kind of safety gear ...but I do know better ....cheers...PS ....it hurt like hell
I think there’s probably something we all do even though we know better.
Thanks for pushing saw safety again.
Every hard hat needs decals. It makes them feel good. STP oil filters, Grateful Dead, aka your favorite bands, various power tools,products you find useful and recommend. Sawmill decals, your favorite cold snacks, etc.
Always enjoy your show! My wife immediately picked up on the Princess Bride reference…..
You are the first one to mention the Princess Bride reference. I wondered if anyone would catch that.
Could you post a link to where your favorite hardhat and suspension can be purchased?
Thank you.. I enjoy your videos very much.
You tube comments are interesting, from non subscribers… but the Shorts commenter is a real gem.
Over a year ago I had some Shorts videos that got a lot of views. Yeah I got some real gems commenting there.
Aluminum feels lighter to me than plastic, but the main reason to wear aluminum even though they’re expensive if you can’t yell for help, you can bang on that aluminum hardhat like a symbol. Compare the aluminum to the plastic see which one travels farther in the woods. I guarantee you’ll hear the aluminum far away.
@skoolzone Thank you. Cheap bastard that I am (& somewhat sentimental), I've been using the company officer's (red) helmet I earned as a firefighter because I HAD one & didn't think spending was justified. I can admit you have a good point (if I should ever loose/forget my whistle...).
DOUG out
Autism is a super power.
The 462 is also a super power machine.
My hardhead is also terribly comfortable.
Hard hats are great, as safety has to always be top priority. You did forget to mention another advantage to wearing a hard hat, they're very stylish! You wear a hard hat while out in the forest and you'll be fighting off all the lumberjanes.😂
I may have to go hang out in your woods. I haven’t seen a single lumber Jane here.
4:15 not to mention limbs can just randomly fall. Which means anytime you're in the woods, you can get away with no gloves and no glasses, but no lid might be a bad decision.
Ha... Ha... Ha... Ha... Ha... Ha... Subscribed ... that was hilarious.... (and educational) Mission Accomplished... Thumbs Up !!
couple years ago a stick went through my rear hatchback window and punched a clean hole through 3/4 particle board in my sub woofer , i was flabbergasted 😡
Like your presentations…why do you stand your chainsaw vertically, with the nose or tip, in the dirt? Seems to be a mistake…..
Good job
👍
When we left North Bend this morning we were in rain (not heavy but rain) all the way to the Calif. border some off and on and then real slght but still some wet stuff we really need it.
I am guessing you home in time for the rain today. Record rainfall today in Eureka I hear.
This is the most rain I've seen in a long time, it's unfortunate the central valley didn't get anything. I was thinking of you on our way back
@@WilsonForestLands
Many years ago my uncle was wearing a baseball type hat while sawing. He had a kick back... The chain chewed off most of the tip of his nose. The hat was chewed up but he believes the plastic inside the brim was just enough to keep the saw from chewing up his forehead as it folded down over his face. The plastic surgeon did a fairly good job of reconstructing his nose but to this day the damage is noticeable. I always wear a forestry helmet!
I wear a hard hat cutting the grass! It just so happens that it's a stihl hat with the ear covers on it, so I just wear it and the face shield whenever I do anything. But yes, my neighbors laugh. I noticed they don't have any stihl tools, though, so, really.......who's laughing now? 😊
I always wear a hard hat, gloves, and a face shield when running a chain saw. I saw my grandpa and dad mess them selves up way too many times.
Smart, learning from other peoples mistakes.
OK, very interesting video, but where are your chaps? Lol
I love the sound of hail or hard rain on my aluminum awning. It's a lot like your aluminum hat. What makes it very special is that it drives the neighbors, who keep a barking dog, crazy.
And my steel toe boots, I didn’t have those on either. 😁
I wear a Finnish M40 helmet when I cut.
When I was just starting to get better at speed skating, my coach told me to get a helmet. I was like ok whatever (being a teenager), so I went and got one the 1st time I slipped and hit the oak floor. That helmet saved me from a concussion..
So I understand why certain safety equipment is needed..
That story reminds me of all the time I spent on a bicycle growing up, and all the things I did on one. Never wore a helmet, I was lucky.
I agree 💯. That's the smart thing to do
It’s good to do the smart thing at least once in a while.
@@WilsonForestLands right. That's what I say
I saw this one when I was scrolling through all your videos, and just got back to it now. I have never worn a hard hat cutting wood, but this has convinced me that I should get one. I have been making a point of always wearing my Stihl safety boots, plus always put on the logging pants I got (I find them easier than the chaps). I recently passed the "old age" threshold and do find that my short term memory perhaps isn't as good as it once was, so decided to try to protect myself from myself more diligently. Becoming a Darwin Award candidate would be just too embarrassing. Thanks for this. Any suggestions on what to buy (anything more specific that the metal style & modern suspension). Thanks again.
Hardhats good. Gloves can be tiring unless they have a grippy inner palm. When wearing a leather or fabric type glove I find that I have to grip harder to control the saw and rubbery palm gloves create sweat.
I use the blue neoprene gloves that have the fabric in the back that ventilate well. There is a black type of rubbery palm glove, it’s a thinner material and they are horrible for sweating. these kind I have not had a sweating problem with.
Last year a tiny spring pole kicked a 550xp, full throttled, into my face. The steel mesh saved me.
I had the steel mesh for a long time, that story makes me think about going back to it
@@WilsonForestLands your videos are great bud, i am a land manager and hobby chainsaw user. I am slowly changing to a logging career and find your videos very helpful while i learn. Thanks for helping me out.
Good video . Safety is important but not so much video making. Had to laugh at some of the comments😂
I have to laugh at some of the comments I get over on shorts. It’s the only way to maintain sanity over there.
One day in the woods i was cutting a small leaner whit a large branch at 10 feet off the ground going the other way from the lean, after setting the hinge and cutting the face went to cut the holding wood fast, as soon as the saw touched it heard a loud snap without looking up i was retreating to my safe spot when a branch got caught in my ponytail and stopped me just in time to see the large branch land in my safe spot. it had to have broken off as the tree barber chaired when the tip hit the ground. i went straight to the saw shop and bought a hard hat'
Additionally id probably rather have an aluminum hardhat than plastic to protect from a saw kick.
Next video: Wilson in full 14th century steel plate-armor, bucking wind-throws for firewood.
'Course the voice-over audio will be atrocious because of the plate-mail squeaking, and rattling every time he moves...
Cheers from (a once-again) soggy Linn County.
If I had some handy, I might just do that just for fun. It could make a good gag video. Finally soggy down this way too. It’s good to finally see all the sog.
I got hit by a branch that knocked the wind out of me ,my hardhat saved me .
The branch hit the brim and then my chest it might have really hurt/ killed me
That is a great hat, I don't like the plastic ones...
I love arguing with people on the internet. It's a fun hobby and it's cheap... LOL
I try not to argue with them too much. I just like to use them for cheap entertaining content.
I’ve been told many times that I’m hard headed, but I’ll still wear a hard hat while working in the woods. Maybe I should call it a “harder hat”?
Makes sense to me, I say go with it. 😁
Personally, for me a hardhat is plenty, gloves I can't feel the saw, chaps get tangled in brush and briars and I think if you can't get away from the tree if something goes wrong because you can't move, it's a lot more dangerous to get smashed by the tree, than cut, both are terrible, first hand experience has taught me that. And chaps are extremely hot. My own thoughts on it, you definitely had a close call!! It's amazing that a limb doesn't have to be very big to do a lot of damage!
I like these thin neoprene gloves, otherwise I hear you on not being able to feel. The chaps I wear come down to right about the top of my boots. They cover the most vulnerable areas but are high enough that I don’t get tangled in the brush like I used to in the ones that go down lower. But you are right it’s a question of what is more dangerous and I can’t argue with you there.
I just discovered your channel. The commentary about RUclips commenters made me laugh. RUclips comments are (can be) an indictment on the intelligence of human beings.
Having said that, here's my question, which I don't think is quite as dumb. What about ear protection? (When cutting, of course, not when talking on camera).
Thanks for the comment, well said. I use earplugs. I used to use the muffs attached to the hardhats. Then I went back to this style of hardhat and started using earplugs again. I may go back to earmuffs as the weather cools.
You sure do a lot of explaining 🤣🤣
I had some ‘splaining to do.
You may be setting a trend, maybe those strange, super skinny gals with the goofy way of walking on the runway will be modeling Hardhats. The guys questioning your every move are probably the same nuts that’s drive solo in their cars wearing a mask- can’t be too safe, you know! Take care🇺🇸
I would have to watch one of those runway shows just to see that. yeah I saw someone wearing a mask out on a country road where it’s rarely see more than one vehicle in 10 miles. Interesting concept.
Don't we live in such a judgmental society
In so many ways.
Boop
Why aren't you wearing chaps? 🤣
You must work for yourself because what kind of company would not make their employees wear a hardhat