Wearing the right clothing is important when using a chain saw, which include hard hats and safety goggles. Clothing should be form-fitting and not loose. Operators should wear earplugs, steel-toed shoes and leather gloves. The best clothing to wear for sawing is chain-saw-resistant clothing, such as chaps. Studies have shown that most injuries happen on the left side of the body. Chaps will protect the left arm and leg. A person should also be in fair physical and mental shape before using the equipment. This means no prescription drugs or alcohol should be consumed before operating a saw. Mental alertness is the most important way for a person to protect themselves.

The equipment will need to be checked for proper functioning. The teeth will need to be sharp enough to cut through wood and branches smoothly. It will need to have a kickback guard. The lubrication system will need to be in proper working order, as well as the chain tension. The proper chain tension is important. If it is too tight it could ruin the saw. A chain saw should have a long lifespan if used correctly. If the chain tension is too loose, the chain saw may malfunction. The engine of the equipment should be maintained regularly to ensure that it has the proper spark plugs, a clean air filter and working muffler. The manual will come in handy when learning how to change parts out on the engine. If the teeth of the saw need to be sharpened, a person should use gloves before filing the teeth. The oil of the equipment will need to be checked. The type of oil used will depend on the guide bar that is being used for the job.

When using the equipment, the operator should never cut branches or logs that are in between their legs or between their feet. A branch or a log should always be cut away from the person's body and legs. There should be no one else around the vicinity of where trees and logs are being cut. Chain saws have a kickback guard to protect people who are using the saw. Without the kick back guard the equipment can move about. Keeping a firm hold on the equipment is crucial. Keeping the blade teeth sharpened is also important when dealing with kickback. Branches should be cut at the base of the blade and not the tip.