When Should I Retire My Chainsaw Pants?!

Chainsaw pants or chainsaw chaps are one of the most critical pieces of PPE we must wear whenever operating a chainsaw on the ground. Whether it’s an arborist, forestry worker, or a homeowner, chainsaw pants can mean the difference between a close call and a catastrophic injury! To keep this critical piece of PPE functioning at its best, we must properly wash, care for, and – when appropriate – repair them, and when all else fails, retire them.

What Are Chainsaw Pants?

The exterior is designed with high-quality materials to withstand the abrasion of the everyday tree work environment. Its primary function is to safeguard the inner protective fibers, which are intended to protect the chainsaw operator. The inner fibers are laid in layers that are engineered to jam the chainsaw sprocket, which will stop the chain from rotating before it can reach the wearer’s leg. It's important to note that chainsaw pants or chainsaw chaps are not cut-proof. If they were, one set would suffice until they wore out from use and time. Instead, the purpose of chainsaw protection is to lessen the severity of injury to the user, but hopefully, it causes no injury. You might wonder what the point is if they can still be cut through. The answer is that wearing them provides a chance of reducing injury severity, which is preferable to not wearing them and facing potential serious injury, inability to work, accumulating bills, and job loss. 

Generally, you’ll see two main types:

• Type A: Front protection

• Type C: 360-degree coverage

Washing Chainsaw Pants (Chaps)

The protective garments are tough, but they’re not indestructible. Washing them incorrectly can damage the protective fibers and render them ineffective. 

1. Read the label or manual that comes with the pants.

1. Always start by checking the manufacturer’s washing instructions. Some brands have unique materials or linings that may require special care.

2. Shake off debris.

1. Remove sawdust, dirt, or debris by shaking or brushing the pants – or chap – off before washing. It’s preferable to do this outside or at a trash receptacle, or you might get in trouble for filling the washing machine with undesirable material! Although this step could be avoided if we all remembered to zip the pockets shut.

3. Throw it in the wash!

1. This is why instructions must be read. They provide what temperature will be safe to wash at with a gentle cycle. 

2. Avoid high-speed spin cycles.

3. Once out of the wash, stretch the pants or chaps to their original form and ensure the inner fibers are not balled up.

4. Air dry only!

1. Hang dry in a well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight and heat sources. 

2. Do not tumble dry – heat can melt or warp the protective fibers.

Repair

The outer layer of chainsaw pants and chainsaw chaps is designed to withstand wear from brush, branches, and other elements, but they are not indestructible. Here is a quick breakdown of when to repair:

1. Safe repairs to the outer layer.

1. Small cuts or abrasions to the outer layer, where the inner fibers remain intact. 

2. Loose seams or stitching not related to the protective layers. 

2. How to repair:

1. Use a heavy-duty repair patch or Cordura-compatible thread and patch. 

2. Some companies sell and/or come with a repair kit. 

3. When stitching the repair patch, it is imperative not to sew through the leg protection.  Also, do not use adhesives for the repair, as this may affect and reduce the protective properties of the pants.

3. Unsafe to repair.

1. Damage to the protective layers underneath the outer layer. 

2. Pants heavily soiled in solvents.

When to Retire Chainsaw Pants and Chaps

1. If an improper repair has been done, the pants or chaps must be retired. 

1. Sewing the inner fibers can inhibit the intended function and reduce the level of protection. 

2. Exposed to extreme heat from being placed in a dryer or after having contacted a hot surface.

1. The heat from a dryer can shrink or deform the protective fibers, thus ruining the pants/chaps.

2. When a surface is hot enough and the pants make contact, the outer layer will melt and can compromise the fibers.

3. Multiple holes and cuts can warrant retiring the pants and/or chaps. 

1. The inner fibers are then exposed directly to UV, abrasion, and debris fill up.

4. Serious damage from a chainsaw.

1. Once the fibers have been pulled due to contact from a spinning chain, the chainsaw pants must be retired. 

Having inspected multiple pairs of chaps, there are times when the chainsaw chap may appear to have only been torn on the outer layer, but a thorough inspection can prove otherwise. 

1. Insert your finger through the tear.

2. Perform a sweep.

This can result in finding protective fibers that have been pulled and potentially pushed back in.

Conclusion

Chainsaw pants are more than just workwear, it's lifesaving gear, and to quote my favorite chainsaw pant manufacturer – Arbortec – “Protect your lifestyle”!