Using a chainsaw is often seen as a hazardous activity at the best of times but if you use common sense and a few rules the chainsaw shouldn't be a dangerous tool.

Use protective clothing, etc In all circumstances you should wear a good set of gloves -- ideally specialist chainsaw gloves with a reinforced panel on the back of the hand. If you're using a chainsaw for more than a minute hearing protection should be mandatory. A hard hat should be worn and steel-toecapped boots. Leg protection (chaps or full trousers) should be worn if you plan to be cutting downwards. The Health and Safety Executive recommends that all chainsaw operators carry or wear a first aid kit, rather than relying on a first aid post some distance away. Your first aid kit should include a dressing suitable for large wounds -- chainsaw injuries aren't likely to be fixed by a plaster.