Posted By ian mcnally
Rescue blades - Information for plant safety trainers

Delivering abrasive wheel training is a fairly straightforward course within the construction sector and the content hasn’t changed much for many years. I am looking to increase my knowledge to cover the use of rescue blades and have been surprised to find few people know much about them, if anyone out there has much experience in this area I would appreciate some information.

Changing technology has seen multi purpose and rescue blades sold for a while now and have been mostly the domain of the police and fire services. I have not had much experience with such equipment and and would appreciate any advice from someone with the relevant experience/knowledge.

I have been aware for some time that the cut-off Machine safety manual for the manufacture Stihl, advises against using such blades on their equipment. Can anyone let me know of any technical reason why this is so. It is strange that Partner and Makita appear less adverse but the OM are not all that helpfuil.

Lastly I would like to find out if there is any high tech PPE capable of offering suitable protection against such equipment, apart from the chainsaw trousers/bib and brace type protection to EN 381-5, it is about all I can find that gets close to offering a reasonable level of protection.

It is interesting that a company that supplies PPE to the fire service were unsure if any of their equipment offered the right level of protection for this.

You help would be much appreciated

thanks


Ian

Posted By Chris Cooper-Abbs
Ian,

Just to ask, rescue blades as in discs, as oppose to cardide cutters for chainsaws.

Do you have a technical spec for the saws to be utilised? Class 2 or 3 chainsaw trousers no good?

If it helps i have good contacts at both Stihl and Husquarvna - PM if i can help.

Posted By ian mcnally
Hi Frank/Chirs,

Frank, yes I do appreciate these are dangerous machines (used mostly by rescue service) I flagged up my concerns about PPE to see if anyone could suggest what may be suitable and know users of this forum have a wide and diverse range of expertise, I am looking into other sources.

Chris, have responded directly and will share my finding with those that may be interested.



thanks