Free checklist · Grounds & farm
Chainsaw pre-use inspection checklist (free, printable)
Before each shift, check that the chain brake stops the chain, the throttle lockout and stop switch work, the chain catcher and hand guards are intact, the chain is sharp and correctly tensioned, the bar isn't worn or bent, and the muffler and spark arrester are in place. Then check the operator's chaps, boots, helmet, and eye and hearing protection. OSHA's logging rule lists most of these.
- How often
- Before each shift
- Items
- 21 checks
- Takes
- About 6 minutes
By the CheckBadges team · Updated
Layout
Chainsaw pre-use inspection checklist
Before each shift
| Item | OK | Problem | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saw off: safety features | |||
| Chain brake and front hand guardGuard engages and releases cleanly; not cracked or loose. | |||
| Throttle lockoutThrottle can't be squeezed until the lockout is pressed. | |||
| Chain catcherPresent below the bar at the body; not broken off. | |||
| Rear hand guardIntact along the rear handle. | |||
| Handles and anti-vibration mountsTight, not cracked; mounts not torn or loose. | |||
| Muffler and spark arresterFitted and tight; no holes; spark screen clean and unbroken. | |||
| Fuel and oil capsBoth caps tight; no leaks; spilled fuel wiped off. | |||
| Bar and chain | |||
| Chain sharpnessCutters sharp and even; depth gauges filed to spec. | |||
| Chain conditionNo cracked, broken or loose links, rivets or cutters. | |||
| Chain tensionSnug on the bar but pulls round by hand (engine off, brake off). | |||
| Guide barStraight; rails even and unburred; nose turns; bar nuts tight. | |||
| Starting and running | |||
| Fuel and start distancesFueled 10 ft from flame; started 10 ft from where it was fueled. | |||
| Start with brake onStarted on the ground or firmly held, chain brake engaged. | |||
| Chain brake testRunning, the brake stops the chain at once. | |||
| Throttle and idleChain stops when you let go of the throttle; no creep at idle. | |||
| Chain oilingBar tip throws a line of oil onto a light surface when revved. | |||
| Stop switchShuts the engine off at once. | |||
| Operator PPE | |||
| Leg protectionCut-resistant chaps or trousers from thigh to boot top; no cuts. | |||
| BootsCut-resistant, with ankle support. | |||
| Head, eye, face and hearingHelmet, eye or mesh face protection and hearing protection on. | |||
| GlovesWorn and in good condition. | |||
Problems found and action taken:
If anything is a problem, don't use the machine: tag it out and report it. Free checklist from checkbadges.com — put it on a QR sticker and operators can fill it in on their phone.
What to check on a chainsaw, item by item
Saw off: safety features
- Chain brake and front hand guard — Guard engages and releases cleanly; not cracked or loose.
- Throttle lockout — Throttle can't be squeezed until the lockout is pressed.
- Chain catcher — Present below the bar at the body; not broken off.
- Rear hand guard — Intact along the rear handle.
- Handles and anti-vibration mounts — Tight, not cracked; mounts not torn or loose.
- Muffler and spark arrester — Fitted and tight; no holes; spark screen clean and unbroken.
- Fuel and oil caps — Both caps tight; no leaks; spilled fuel wiped off.
Bar and chain
- Chain sharpness — Cutters sharp and even; depth gauges filed to spec.
- Chain condition — No cracked, broken or loose links, rivets or cutters.
- Chain tension — Snug on the bar but pulls round by hand (engine off, brake off).
- Guide bar — Straight; rails even and unburred; nose turns; bar nuts tight.
Starting and running
- Fuel and start distances — Fueled 10 ft from flame; started 10 ft from where it was fueled.
- Start with brake on — Started on the ground or firmly held, chain brake engaged.
- Chain brake test — Running, the brake stops the chain at once.
- Throttle and idle — Chain stops when you let go of the throttle; no creep at idle.
- Chain oiling — Bar tip throws a line of oil onto a light surface when revved.
- Stop switch — Shuts the engine off at once.
Operator PPE
- Leg protection — Cut-resistant chaps or trousers from thigh to boot top; no cuts.
- Boots — Cut-resistant, with ankle support.
- Head, eye, face and hearing — Helmet, eye or mesh face protection and hearing protection on.
- Gloves — Worn and in good condition.
How often a chainsaw has to be inspected
Check a chainsaw before its first use in each shift. The clearest OSHA text is in the logging standard, which requires that "each tool, including any tool provided by an employee, is inspected before initial use during each workshift" (29 CFR 1910.266(e)(1)(ii)). At a minimum the inspection covers:
- "Handles and guards, to assure that they are sound, tight-fitting, properly shaped, free of splinters and sharp edges, and in place"
- "Controls, to assure proper function"
- "Chain-saw chains, to assure proper adjustment"
- "Chain-saw mufflers, to assure that they are operational and in place"
- "Chain brakes and nose shielding devices, to assure that they are in place and function properly"
- "Cutting edges, to assure that they are sharp and properly shaped"
- "All other safety devices, to assure that they are in place and function properly"
That rule applies to logging operations, but it's the best written benchmark for any crew running saws: tree care, grounds, utilities and storm cleanup. The same standard requires saws put into service since it took effect to have a chain brake, says "No chain-saw kickback device shall be removed or otherwise disabled," and requires the saw to be "operated and adjusted in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions" ((e)(2)). PPE must be "inspected before initial use during each workshift" too ((d)(1)(ii)).
Outside logging, OSHA's general rule for portable powered tools requires every hand-held gasoline chain saw to have "a constant pressure throttle control that will shut off the power to the saw chain when the pressure is released" (1910.243(a)(2)(i)). Tree care companies also work to ANSI Z133, the industry's consensus safety standard.
How to do the check
- Saw on the ground, engine off, chain brake on, gloves on.
- Check the safety features: brake handle, throttle lockout, chain catcher, hand guards, muffler and spark screen.
- Check the bar and chain. Release the brake to pull the chain round the bar by hand, looking at every cutter.
- Fuel it at least 10 feet from any open flame, wipe up spills, and carry the saw at least 10 feet from the fueling spot to start it ((e)(2)(iv) and (v)).
- Start it on the ground or firmly supported with the chain brake on. "Drop starting a chain saw is prohibited" ((e)(2)(vi)).
- Run the tests: brake, idle creep, oiling, and stop switch.
- Check the operator's PPE before the first cut.
The defects that take it out of service
| Defect | Why it fails |
|---|---|
| Chain brake doesn't stop the chain | The main protection against kickback injuries is gone |
| Chain moves at idle | The chain is cutting when the operator thinks it's stopped |
| Throttle lockout or stop switch broken | The saw can run when it shouldn't, or can't be stopped |
| Chain catcher missing or broken | A broken or derailed chain can whip back at the operator |
| Dull, damaged or loose chain | Forces the operator to push; a loose chain can come off |
| Muffler or spark arrester loose, holed or missing | Burns, noise and fire risk in dry vegetation |
| Fuel leak | Fire risk next to a hot muffler |
| Cracked handle or torn mounts | The operator loses a firm grip |
What to do when something fails
Fix chain problems on the spot; tag out everything else. Logging rules say a tool's cutting edge is sharpened to the manufacturer's specifications "whenever it becomes dull during the workshift" ((e)(1)(v)), so a dull or loose chain gets filed, adjusted or swapped before the saw cuts. A brake, throttle, stop switch or muffler fault means the saw is out of service: hang a DO NOT USE tag on it and send it to a qualified dealer. See what to do when equipment fails inspection.
Keeping the record
OSHA's logging rule requires the inspection but not a written record of it. A dated record per saw still shows the brake was tested that morning, and it helps you spot the saw that fails every week. Number your saws so each has its own history. See equipment inspection record keeping and equipment checks for tree care crews.
A QR sticker on each saw's case or top cover lets the operator do this check on their phone at the truck, before the first cut. Problems email you with a photo straight away. See QR code equipment checklists.
Skip the clipboard
Put this chainsaw inspection checklist on a QR sticker.
- Operators scan the sticker with their own phone's camera. No app, account or password.
- Anything marked Problem emails you right away, with photos, and warns the next operator.
- Every check is saved by machine with who did it and when. Print one or export a CSV.
Free for 3 machines. Every item above is already filled in — edit anything. No card.
Chainsaw 1
Chainsaw inspection checklist
Frequently asked questions
What does OSHA require for chainsaw inspections?
In logging, each tool must be "inspected before initial use during each workshift," covering handles and guards, controls, chain adjustment, mufflers, chain brakes and nose shielding devices, cutting edges and all other safety devices (29 CFR 1910.266(e)(1)(ii)). Other industries have no chainsaw-specific inspection rule, so that list is the usual benchmark.
How do you test a chainsaw chain brake?
Follow your manual's test. Typically, with the saw running on firm ground and both hands on the handles, you engage the brake by pushing the front hand guard forward; the chain must stop at once. If it doesn't, the saw is out of service.
Why does my chainsaw chain move at idle?
Usually the idle speed is set too high or the clutch is worn or sticking. A chain that creeps at idle is a hazard: have the idle adjusted to the manual's setting, or the clutch repaired, before the saw is used.
How tight should a chainsaw chain be?
Snug against the bar with no sag underneath, but loose enough to pull round by hand with gloves on, the engine off and the brake released. Check it often, especially with a new chain, which stretches as it beds in.
What PPE is required to run a chainsaw?
In logging, OSHA requires cut-resistant leg protection covering the thigh to the top of the boot, cut-resistant foot protection, head protection where objects can fall or fly, and eye or face protection (29 CFR 1910.266(d)(1)). Add hearing protection and gloves.
Keep reading
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- Out-of-service tag makerPrint DANGER – DO NOT OPERATE and OUT OF SERVICE tags for defective equipment. Fill in the machine, problem and date, or leave blanks. Free, no signup.
- Public worksMunicipal fleet equipment inspections on a QR sticker per plow, loader, sweeper and truck. Crews scan with their phone, no app. Records ready for any request.
Do your chainsaw checks by QR code.
Stick a QR code on every machine and operators do the pre-use check on their own phone — no app, no login. Free for up to 3 machines; try it with your real machines before you sign up.