By Callum Ludwig
The Upper Yarra SES Unit is set to benefit from a donation that will not only help the unit respond to emergency callouts but also provide an important educational opportunity for community safety.
STIHL Australia is marking the launch of its inaugural Chainsaw Safety Week by donating $10,000 worth of brand-new STIHL MSA211 chainsaws to 22 of the hardest-hit SES units in the state, including Upper Yarra SES.
Upper Yarra SES Unit Controller Hannah Brunton said they are so grateful to even be considered.
“There are so many units across the state, all of which are so deserving for all of the work they do for their communities so this offer by STIHL is so generous and such a great help for all units that are recipients,” she said.
STIHL’s inaugural Chainsaw Safety Week, held from 3 June to 9 June, comes as nearly 1000 chainsaw-related injuries are reported in Australia each year.
Managing Director of STIHL Australia, Leeson Brook said they recognised the need for education tailored to Australian chainsaw users.
“At STIHL, we’re committed to making sure that Australians are putting their safety first. As Australia’s most trusted brand for chainsaws and outdoor power equipment, we recognise we have a role to play to support the safe use of these essential tools,” he said.
“Through our dealerships across the country, STIHL Australia has been providing in-person education to Australians for years. We’re proud to make it even more accessible for users through online educating content to make sure all Australians are using the proper protective equipment when they’re operating a chainsaw.”
VICSES’ Deputy Chief Officer Readiness and Response Alistair Drayton said that the donation is greatly appreciated in supporting communities around Victoria through difficult situations.
“We’re pleased to support National Chainsaw Safety Week and are very grateful to STIHL for the donation of $10,000 worth of chainsaws which will go to some of our volunteer units across Victoria,” he said.
All SES volunteers who operate a chainsaw are required to have completed two Nationally Accredited courses (FWPCOT2259 Trim and Cut Felled Trees and FWPCOT3301 Trim Trees Using a Pole Saw) and regularly undergo maintenance skills training to ensure they remain sharp.
Ms Brunton said they are also big on ensuring that experienced operators assist the greener operators and are all very comfortable communicating concerns to keep each other in check as needed.
“Having spent time doing the courses, I now get so frustrated when I see people using saws incorrectly, they are such a handy tool but it is so easy to get hurt, especially if they are misused,” she said.
“Obviously most of the time people aren’t intentionally doing the wrong thing but ignorance can cause injury just as easily as arrogance can, ot understanding the physics of the cuts you are making can have some really serious consequences and really put you in danger,”
“I love community members that want to help but I want them to be safe while doing so I strongly recommend anyone using a chainsaw being correctly trained.”
As well as storms, VICSES Units can utilise chainsaws for other emergencies.
Ms Brunton said storms are the most common time they use chainsaws but there doesn’t have to be a storm for trees to fall so their chainsaws get a workout year-round.
“They also help us with access to places where trees may be a hindrance, we’ve seen this on requests to assist Ambulance Victoria or Victoria Police to access and extricate patients from the tracks out the back of Reefton or Powelltown for example, things like low hanging branches that a dirt bike can manoeuvre around but emergency service vehicles can’t,” she said.
“Our saws are all very well looked after and maintained so they do last us quite a long time given the amount of work we put them through operationally but it is so beneficial to have a variety of saws in a variety of sizes as this means we can tailor our tools depending on which member is operating them and what application they are being used for such as sizes of trees.”
