Safety gear is a staple for most professional loggers, foresters, fire crews, and other forest- related professionals. Make it a staple for you, too. It is too dangerous to take chances. Cutting a tree that is larger than the bar requires considerable skill and will not be addressed in this publication. Have a professional show you how it's done.
Weather plays an important role in safe cutting.
Wind can push a tree in unexpected directions, and rain can make conditions too slippery to cut safely. Kickback describes what happens to the chain saw when the tip of the bar contacts an object while the chain is moving. A single sawtooth essentially jams into an object and, instead of cutting it, the energy from the saw is redirected back and up. To help avoid the risk of kickback, make sure the area in which you are cutting is free from obstructions. Do not let the nose of the guide bar contact a log, branch, rock, or any other obstruction while you are operating the saw.