Extension Report

Baldwin County Extension Office

302A Byrne Street

Bay Minette, AL  36507

Telephone (251) 937-7176 or

928-0860/943-5061 ext. 2222

FAX (251) 937-7285

Beau Brodbeck

Regional Extension Agent

Forestry, Wildlife & Natural Resources

April 20, 2010

Chainsaw Safety After Storms Seminar

Rip Tompkins, veteran arborist and a nationally recognized chainsaw safety trainer, will spend one week in Alabama from May 10 through May 14, 2010. He will be training municipal and professional tree care personnel as well as homeowners on proper chainsaw operation and felling techniques.  The Alabama Cooperative Extension System utilizing Gulf Coast Resources Conservation & Development Council funding will be hosting Rip for this series of chainsaw safety seminars aimed at preparing hurricane response work crews for hurricane season.  The seminars will be at the following dates and locations:

May 10 – Five Rivers Delta Center, Spanish Fort at 9:00 AM-$15

May 11 – Jefferson Davis Community College, Brewton at 9:00 AM-$15

May 12 – Landmark Park -Dothan at 9:00 AM-$15

In addition to these three workshops geared for the municipal and professional chainsaw operators, there will be two evening seminars for homeowners.  The homeowner workshop will be a shortened and condensed version designed to educate on safe chainsaw operation on trees downed after storm events.  The homeowner seminars will be held on the following two dates and locations:

May 10 – Fairhope Public Library at 6:00 PM-free

May 13 – Houston County Extension Office, Dothan at 6:00 PM-free

Chainsaw injuries are among the most frequent sights in emergency rooms following a severe storm. “Small wonder why,” says Dr. Mathew Smidt, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System forest safety specialist and Auburn University assistant professor of forestry.  According to Smidt, “The chainsaw is the most dangerous hand tool. Using a chainsaw incorrectly not only can lead to severe injury but even death in some cases.  Most loggers, in fact, avoid chainsaw use because of the inherent risk of injury. “         

In the aftermath of storms and especially hurricanes, municipal crews are on the front lines clearing roadways. During major storm events, the workload is often shared by city departments and employees with limited chainsaw experience.  “It’s essential that our city crews learn the latest OSHA chainsaw safety regulations” said one Daphne employee following a  2007 training conducted in Daphne, Alabama.  “We run into some scary situations” said one municipal employee from Orange Beach while attending the same 2007 workshop, “these seminars really provide some important information we need to know to work safer”.  

You can reserve a spot for this training, and get more details by calling the Baldwin County Extension Office at (251) 937-7176 or emailing Beau Brodbeck at .  When registering, please indicate which location you will be attending and whether you are coming to the professional or homeowner workshop.

Email address: brodbam@auburn.edu

Phone: 937-7176 or 943-5061, ext. 2222

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M and Auburn Universities) in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture is an equal opportunity educator and employer.