Abstract

Of the 300 chain-saw-related accidents involving the lower extremities (thighs, knees, lower legs) occurring in Québec annually, 200 are suffered by forestry workers. Although workers wear protective leg-guards or pants, a previous study has pointed out the absence of information concerning the effectiveness and composition of this equipment.

Having established the feasibility of the project, the researchers developed a test bed and evaluation protocol for leg-guards. Data from an initial series of measurements was used to optimize the method’s reproducibility and specificity. The results of a second series, performed on five brands of leg-guards, were used to formulate performance criteria for the equipment.

As a result of this research, the Bureau de normalisation du Québec (Québec Bureau of Standards) has established two standards: NQ 1923-095 "Eléments de protection des jambières et des pantalons pour les utilisateurs de scie à chaîne. Détermination de la vitesse de blocage et du temps de traversée" - containing a description of the test bed, standard samples, and operating procedure, and NQ 1923-450 "Pantalons et jambières avec éléments de protection pour les utilisateurs de scie à chaine" - establishing minimum break-through and chain-stopping times, manufacturing requirements, and the minimum size of the protected area.